Sap-feeding-instar
Guides
Gracillariinae
Gracillariinae is a subfamily of leaf-mining moths within the family Gracillariidae, first described by Henry Tibbats Stainton in 1854. The subfamily contains diverse genera including Caloptilia, Gracillaria, and Sabulopteryx. Larvae are predominantly leaf miners, with most species exhibiting a characteristic life cycle involving an initial sap-feeding instar with modified mouthparts, though some species have been shown to deviate from this pattern. The subfamily has been subject to significant taxonomic revision, with phylogenetic studies in 2017 reorganizing generic placements among related subfamilies.