Fern-herbivore

Guides

• Neomusotima

  Neomusotima is a genus of crambid moths established by Yoshiyasu in 1985, containing at least two species: N. conspurcatalis (Warren, 1896) and N. fuscolinealis Yoshiyasu, 1985. The genus is best known for N. conspurcatalis, which has been extensively studied as a biological control agent against the invasive Old World climbing fern (Lygodium microphyllum) in Florida. This species exhibits highly specific host associations with ferns, with genomic studies revealing expansions in odorant receptor gene families potentially linked to host plant detection.

  CrambidaeMusotiminaebiological-controlfern-herbivoreinvasive-species-managementgenomicsparasitoid-interactionsFlorida-introduced-speciesLygodium-microphyllumhost-specificity

• Phytoliriomyza felti

  Phytoliriomyza felti is a leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae, specialized on ferns. The larvae create distinctive mines in fronds of various fern species. It has been documented on Pellaea atropurpurea (purple-stem cliffbrake) and Asplenium species, and likely occurs on additional fern hosts. This species represents one of the relatively few agromyzid flies with documented fern-feeding specialization.

  leaf-minerfern-specialistAgromyzidaeDipteraforest-insectMissouri-faunafern-herbivorePhytoliriomyzaPellaeaAsplenium