Bucculatrix fusicola

Bucculatrix needhami

Bucculatrix longula

Bucculatrix simulans

Bucculatrix viguierae

The larvae form slender spindle-shaped galls (fig. 41) on stems of *Helianthus trachelifolius* Mill. [< *H. decapetalus* per Weakley's most recent (2023) draft flora], usually toward the upper part of the stem. Galls vary in length and diameter from 2 cm. in length with a diameter of .5 cm. to 4 or 5 cm. in length with a correspondingly lesser diameter. Feeding is completed in the latter half of September, the larva hibernating in the gall through the winter, escaping in the spring through a minute circular aperture. 
...
 The specimens identified by Breland and Schmitt in their paper on the “ Biology of Two Sunflower Gall Makers” (Ent. News, LIX, pp. 225-234, 1948) as *B. fusicola* Braun are examples of *B. simulans*, new species, and are included in the type series of that species. The galls figured by these authors do not resemble those of *B. fusicola*.

The galls occur on several species of *Helianthus*, and their size and shape appears to vary with the species of sunflower...

The following are a few excerpts from Dr. Needham’s paper (cited above):
"[on *H. agrestis*] gall is a thickening of the walls of the stem, about an inch long and four-fifths as wide, and with a large oval cavity inside. It varies in form from oblong to almost round. It tapers a little more abruptly to the stem at the upper end." ... "Galls occur singly on the stems; very rarely two, and when two, one or both are imperfectly formed. They are generally located somewhat below mid-height of the plant." In contrast on *Helianthus angustifolius*, the irregular galls occur amongst the inflorescence, the peduncles of the flower heads branching out from the gall. The gall may be quite slender when on an individual peduncle and up to as large or larger than that of *Gnorimoschema gallaesolidaginis* (Riley), when several peduncles branch from it. Full-grown larvae pass the winter within the gall, leaving in the spring by a small circular opening.

The type series was reared from stem galls on *Helianthus annuus* L. ...
[From WA and UT]

The life history of this species is described and the galls and cocoons figured by Breland and Schmitt under the name *Bucculatrix fusicola* Braun. The galls are somewhat variable in shape (as figured) often appearing as a swelling on the side of the stem.  The larvae become full-fed in the fall passing the winter in the larval state within the gall, leaving the gall to spin and pupate in the spring; a raised ring may encircle the exit hole of the larva.

Type.—♂, Sierra Co., New Mexico, em. 27.IV.50 from gall on *Viguiera annua* (Jones) Blake (annual goldeneye) [Compositae], (E. J. O'Neal)...

The Genus Bucculatrix in America North of Mexico (Microlepidoptera)