Gerdana caritella

Busck, 1908

Hodges# 1144

Etymology

Gerdana: Unknown

caritella: Combines the Latin word carit meaning “love or affection” with the suffix ella for “small.”

Pronunciation

gur-dan-uh kar-ih-tel-uh

Documented Occurrences

This map shows the confirmed sightings of the Gerdana caritella moth in Indiana. All sightings were confirmed through photographic documentation by individuals who contributed to the Great American IN Nature Lepidoptera Project (GAIN LP).

GAIN LP Sightings

Date	County	Observer	Notes	Image1	Image2
2023-07-08	Porter	Joll, Chris
2023-06-27	Johnson	Kohal-Adams, Kim
2023-06-15	Marion	KC, Jill
2023-06-11	Lake	Moore, Chris
2023-06-10	Lake	Halon, Joelle
2022-09-18	Hamilton	Kant, Nancy
2022-09-05	St. Joseph	Mysore, Keshava
2022-08-30	Hamilton	McCord, Dan
2022-08-28	Marion	Schwedler, Kat
2022-08-25	Lake	Moore, Chris

Observation Details	Images
Date: 2023-07-08 County: Porter Observer: Joll, Chris Notes:
Date: 2023-06-27 County: Johnson Observer: Kohal-Adams, Kim Notes:
Date: 2023-06-15 County: Marion Observer: KC, Jill Notes:
Date: 2023-06-11 County: Lake Observer: Moore, Chris Notes:
Date: 2023-06-10 County: Lake Observer: Halon, Joelle Notes:
Date: 2022-09-18 County: Hamilton Observer: Kant, Nancy Notes:
Date: 2022-09-05 County: St. Joseph Observer: Mysore, Keshava Notes:
Date: 2022-08-30 County: Hamilton Observer: McCord, Dan Notes:
Date: 2022-08-28 County: Marion Observer: Schwedler, Kat Notes:
Date: 2022-08-25 County: Lake Observer: Moore, Chris Notes:

Gerdana caritella Sightings by Month

Conservation Status

• Global status: GNR (not yet ranked)
• National status: NNR (not yet ranked)
• Indiana status: SNR (not yet ranked)

Floral Associates

The larval food of Gerdana caritella caterpillars appears to be under-researched. According to bugguide.net, the larvae feed on “fungus-like Witches’-broom, mistletoe, bird nest debris, and fungus on spruce (Picea),” but there are no accompanying citations.

Known Floral Associates in Indiana
Family	Taxonomic Name	Common Name
Order: Pinales
Pinaceae	Picea spp.	spruce
Order: Viscaceae
Viscaceae	Phoradendron leucarpum	eastern mistletoe