Acrolepiopsis leucoscia
Meyrick, 1927
Acrolepiopsis leucoscia is a small in the , described by Edward Meyrick in 1927. It is one of six recognized North American in the . The species is known from the central United States, with records spanning from Texas northward to Illinois, Missouri, and Ohio. Forewing length ranges from 6.7–7.7 mm.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Acrolepiopsis leucoscia: /ˌækrəˌlɛpiˈɒpsɪs luːˈkɒskiə/
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Identification
Acrolepiopsis leucoscia can be distinguished from other North American Acrolepiopsis using morphological characters and male and female genitalia as detailed in taxonomic keys. of the mitochondrial COI gene provides molecular differentiation, with interspecific divergence averaging 8.1% among congeneric species.
Appearance
Small with forewings measuring 6.7–7.7 mm in length. Specific wing pattern, coloration, and body details for this are not documented in available sources. Male and female genitalia provide diagnostic characters for species identification within the .
Distribution
Central United States, from Texas north to Illinois, Missouri, and Ohio.
Similar Taxa
- Acrolepiopsis assectellaCongeneric in North America; A. assectella is an pest of Allium crops, whereas A. leucoscia is a native species with no known agricultural association.
- Acrolepiopsis californicaCongeneric western North American ; distinguishable by and genitalia.
- Acrolepiopsis incertellaCongeneric with overlapping or adjacent distribution; requires genitalia examination or for reliable separation.
More Details
Taxonomic note
placement varies across databases: (primary source), Glyphipterigidae (iNaturalist, Catalogue of Life, GBIF), and Plutellidae (NCBI). Acrolepiidae is the currently accepted family in modern lepidopteran classification.