Acrocercopinae

Kawahara & Ohshima, 2016

Genus Guides

Acrocercopinae is a of leaf-mining in the Gracillariidae, established by Kawahara & Ohshima in 2016. The subfamily contains approximately 30 including Acrocercops, Cryptolectica, Dialectica, and Spulerina. in this subfamily are known from Australia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and other regions. Recent taxonomic revisions using museomics and mitogenomics have clarified species boundaries and reclassified some Australian species previously placed in Ornixolinae.

Acrocercops albinatella by (c) Annika Lindqvist, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Annika Lindqvist. Used under a CC-BY license.

Acrocercops arbutella by (c) Mathew* Zappa, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Mathew* Zappa. Used under a CC-BY license.

Acrocercopinae by (c) Saryu Mae 前朝琉, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Saryu Mae 前朝琉. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Acrocercopinae: /æˌkroʊˌsɜrkəˈpaɪni/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Acrocercopinae is distinguished from other Gracillariidae by molecular phylogenetic data and genitalic . The subfamily was separated from Gracillariinae and Ornixolinae based on combined evidence from mitochondrial , morphology, and bionomics. Identification to level requires examination of genitalia; key genera include Acrocercops, Cryptolectica, Dialectica, Gibbovalva, and Spulerina.

Images

Distribution

Acrocercopinae occurs in the Australian biogeographical realm and Sub-Saharan Africa. Documented records include Australia, Cameroon, Kenya, and Democratic Republic of the Congo. The has a broad tropical and subtropical distribution.

Diet

Larvae are leaf miners, feeding endophytically within leaf tissue. plant associations have been documented for several , though many remain unknown.

Host Associations

Diospyros calycantha - Ebenaceae; new record for Gracillariidae
Mallotus polyadenos - Euphorbiaceae; for Polydema
Mallotus paniculatus - Euphorbiaceae; for Polydema
Macaranga involucrata - Euphorbiaceae; for Polydema
Acacia dealbata - Fabaceae; for Polysoma
Acacia melanoxylon - Fabaceae; for Polysoma
Acacia pycnantha - Fabaceae; for Polysoma
Acacia trinervata - Fabaceae; for Ornica australis
Acacia mangium - Fabaceae; for Ornica australis
Flemingia parviflora - Fabaceae; for Liocrobyla
Flemingia trifloliastrum - Fabaceae; for Liocrobyla
Pongamia pinnata - Fabaceae; for Liocrobyla
Neptunia major - Fabaceae; for Neurostrota
Breynia cernua - Phyllanthaceae; for Diphtheroptila
Breynia oblongifolia - Phyllanthaceae; for Diphtheroptila and Epicephala
Flueggea virosa - Phyllanthaceae; for Diphtheroptila
Glochidion philippicum - Phyllanthaceae; for Diphtheroptila and Epicephala
Glochidion xerocarpus - Phyllanthaceae; for Epicephala
Drypetes deplanchei - Putranjivaceae; new plant for Gracillariidae

Behavior

Larvae exhibit leaf-mining , feeding internally within leaf tissue (endophytic feeding). This feeding strategy is characteristic of the Gracillariidae.

Ecological Role

As leaf miners, larvae may influence leaf physiology and plant growth. Some have documented associations with specific plants in Fabaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Phyllanthaceae, and other .

Similar Taxa

OrnixolinaeAustralian previously classified in Ornixolinae have been reclassified to Acrocercopinae based on molecular and morphological evidence; the are distinguished by phylogenetic analysis and genitalic characters
GracillariinaeClosely related within Gracillariidae; some Australian reclassified from Ornixolinae to Gracillariinae rather than Acrocercopinae; separation based on combined molecular and morphological data

More Details

Taxonomic history

The was established in 2016 based on phylogenetic analysis. Recent studies using museomics (genomic data from museum specimens) and mitogenomics have refined the classification of Australian , transferring several from Ornixolinae to Acrocercopinae or Gracillariinae.

Research methods

Studies of Acrocercopinae have employed integrated approaches combining mitochondrial , , and bionomics to associate century-old with recent collections and delimit boundaries.