Phyllonorycter Hübner, 1822

Triberti, Paolo, Staude, Hermann, Sharp, Ian & Lopez-Vaamonde, Carlos, 2024, Exploring the diversity of Gracillariidae (Lepidoptera) in South Africa: host plants, distribution, and DNA barcoding analysis, with the description of nine new species, Zootaxa 5529 (1), pp. 1-51 : 23

Phyllonorycter Hübner, 1822

This genus is mainly found in the Holarctic region and consists of over 350 species. However, it has also been reported in the Afrotropical region, where it is known to have 46 species (De Prins & De Prins 2011–2023b). It is worth noting that this number is relatively recent, as approximately 30 species have been described only after 2000 ( De Prins & Kawahara 2012). Another interesting point is the prevalence of the Malvaceae family among the host plants of the Afrotropical Phyllonorycter species. Around half of the Afrotropical Phyllonorycter species are associated with this plant family. In South Africa alone, there are 15 species, with 9 of them feeding on Malvaceae . The remaining species feed on Asteraceae (2), Fabaceae (2), and Rosaceae (1) (De Prins & De Prins 2011–2023b). Lastly, this work introduces a new species that has been described, with its larva feeding on Malvaceae .