Coyote Brush Stem Gall Moth
Common NameCoyote Brush Stem Gall Moth
Scientific NameGnorimoschema baccharisella
FamilyGelechiidae
SubfamilyGelechiinae
Wingspan (mm)11
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsgray, brown
HabitatChaparral, coastal scrub, and disturbed areas where Coyote Brush (Baccharis pilularis) grows.
Geographic RangeWestern North America, primarily California and Baja California.
Host PlantsBaccharis pilularis
Flight PeriodAdults typically emerge in late winter to early spring (e.g., February-April).
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesThe larvae bore into the stems of Coyote Brush (Baccharis pilularis), stimulating the plant to form a spherical gall around them. The larva feeds and develops within this protective gall, pupating inside before emerging as an adult moth.
Identification TipsThe most reliable identification is often by the characteristic spherical stem gall it forms on Coyote Brush. The adult moth is small and drab, requiring close examination or rearing from galls for positive identification.
Description
A small, cryptically colored moth with mottled gray and brown forewings, primarily known for its larvae inducing distinctive galls on the stems of coyote brush.
