| Lithocolletinae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Phyllonorycter issikii | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Gracillariidae |
| Subfamily: | Lithocolletinae Stainton, 1854 |
| Genera | |
11 | |
Lithocolletinae is a subfamily of insects in the moth family Gracillariidae. It is distributed worldwide, with most species in temperate regions. [1]
As of 2012, the subfamily contains over 540 species divided into ten genera. [2] About half are native to the Palearctic realm, and over 100 occur in the Nearctic realm. [1] About 66 species occur in the Afrotropical realm, 41 of which were described in the year 2012. [2]
Moths of the subfamily are small, with wingspans under 10 millimeters. They are often colorful, with forewings in shades of orange or red-brown with white or silvery streaks, [1] and a metallic, shiny ground color. [2] Another trait sometimes used to distinguish species is the style of frass distribution. Species may leave their frass scattered about, deposited neatly along leaf veins or gathered at the feeding area, knit into a pile with silk threads, or spun into the cocoon. [2]
These moths are associated with at least 870 species of host plants in 36 botanical families. [2] Many feed on plants of the legume family, Fabaceae, and five genera are limited to them. [1] Many species are monophagic, known from only one host plant. [2] The larvae of most species are found on legumes, as well as the beech family (Fagaceae), the birch family (Betulaceae), the rose family (Rosaceae), and the willow family (Salicaceae). [2]
Most larvae are leaf miners, which feed on leaves and produce distorting tissue damage. Most larvae suck sap during their first three instars, and consume the leaves during their final two instar stages. [2] Familiar pests in the subfamily include Cameraria ohridella , which feeds on horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), Phyllonorycter blancardella , which feeds on apples (Malus spp.), Cremastobombycia lantanella , which attacks lantana (Lantana camara). [2] Some larvae produce galls on plants. [2]
There are ten genera. The largest, Phyllonorycter, contains around 400 species, while the smallest, Protolithocolletis, has only one species. [2] Phyllonorycter contains many species of unclear phylogenetic origins and uncertain taxonomic classification. The definitions of the genera are not yet fully developed. Molecular analysis is ongoing. Collection of specimens is continuing, and new genera are being observed and will be described in the future. [2]
Genera: [2]
Gracillariidae is an important family of insects in the order Lepidoptera and the principal family of leaf miners that includes several economic, horticultural or recently invasive pest species such as the horse-chestnut leaf miner, Cameraria ohridella.
Cameraria is a genus of moths in the family Gracillariidae, which includes many species of leaf miners. One of the best known species is the horse-chestnut leaf miner, Cameraria ohridella.
Macrosaccus robiniella is a moth of the family Gracillariidae.
Phyllonorycter is a genus of moths in the family Gracillariidae.
Phyllonorycter lyoniae is a moth of the family Gracillariidae, described by Tosio Kumata in 1963. It is known from the islands of Shikoku, Kyushu and Honshu in Japan.
Phyllonorycter anchistea is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is known from South Africa and Botswana. The habitat consists of savannah or semi-urban areas with low growing trees and bush vegetation.
Phyllonorycter madagascariensis is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is known from Madagascar.
Phyllonorycter didymopa is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is known from South Africa and Namibia.
Cameraria hexalobina is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is known from South Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The habitat consists of savannah vegetation with high standing dry grass.
Phyllonorycter hibiscina is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is known from South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Cameroon. The habitat consists of secondary forests.
Phyllonorycter lantanae is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is known from South Africa and Kenya.
Phyllonorycter loxozona is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is known from South Africa and Uganda. The record for Kenya is a misidentification of Cameraria torridella.
Phyllonorycter melhaniae is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is known from Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Phyllonorycter pavoniae is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is known from South Africa.
Phyllonorycter rhynchosiae is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is known from South Africa. The habitat consists of the urban hills of Pretoria.
Neolithocolletis pentadesma is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is known from Indonesia (Java), Malaysia, the Philippines (Luzon) and the Seychelles.
Phyllonorycter grewiaephilos is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is found in the Rift Valley and Tsavo National Park in Kenya. The habitat consists of savannah areas at altitudes between 470 and 920 meters.
Phyllonorycter ipomoellus is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is found in south-western Rwanda. The habitat consists of open clearings in montane wet forests at an altitude of about 1,800 meters.
Phyllonorycter hibiscola is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is found in western Kenya. The habitat consists of primary Guineo-Congolian rain forest.
Gracillariinae are a subfamily of moths which was described by Henry Tibbats Stainton in 1854.