Eugaurax

Malloch, 1913

frit flies

Eugaurax is a of frit flies (Chloropidae) established by Malloch in 1913. The genus contains 11 New World , with North American representatives including leaf miners of aquatic plants. Larvae of E. floridensis mine tissues of arrowheads (Sagittaria spp.), while E. hydrocotyles is a leaf and stem miner of floating marshpennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides). A centered on E. quadrilineatus occurs throughout the Americas but its larval remains largely unknown.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Eugaurax: /juːˈɡaʊ̯ɹæks/

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Habitat

Wetland and aquatic environments; closely associated with emergent and floating aquatic vegetation including arrowheads and floating marshpennywort.

Distribution

New World distribution. E. floridensis: eastern USA and southeastern Canada. E. hydrocotyles: USA from Florida to Texas, north to North Carolina and Ohio; leaf mines documented to New Jersey and Ontario. E. quadrilineatus complex: southeastern USA (Florida to North Carolina and Louisiana), Mexico, Central and South America, and Caribbean.

Diet

Larval leaf and stem mining in aquatic plants. E. floridensis mines leaves and other tissues of arrowheads (Sagittaria spp.). E. hydrocotyles mines leaves and stems of floating marshpennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides).

Host Associations

  • Sagittaria spp. - larval E. floridensis; Alismataceae
  • Hydrocotyle ranunculoides - larval E. hydrocotyles; Araliaceae
  • Solanum melongena - uncertainE. quadrilineatus complex; historical rearing record from Florida nearly a century ago, unconfirmed

Behavior

Leaf mining and stem mining by larvae. E. hydrocotyles has been suspected to be a recent immigrant from South America based on its distribution pattern.

Ecological Role

Herbivore specializing in leaf mining of aquatic plants. Potential agent for floating marshpennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides).

Human Relevance

E. hydrocotyles may have value as a agent for floating marshpennywort, an aquatic plant. E. quadrilineatus complex has an unconfirmed historical association with eggplant .

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Sources and further reading