Species Acrobasis minimella - Hodges#5657

5657

Acrobasis minimella Ragonot, 1889

* phylogenetic sequence #167980

New Jersey south to FLorida and west to Texas(1)

in North Carolina overwinters in the soil as a last-stage larva or prepupa and pupates in late April or early May. Adults emerge from the soil in early May and continue to be present until early June(1)

larval hosts are Oaks. Has been collected from Quercus alba L., Q. borealis var. maxima, Q. falcata, Q. laevis, Q, marilandica, and Q. velutina. Appears to prefer Q. marilandica and Q. alba(1)

larvae, most at 1 to 3 meters above the soil surface, feeds on the lower epidermis and constructs a very small protective tube from its frass pellets and silk. The tube is enlarged as the larva grows. Only tissue near the opening of the tube is consumed. The larva retreats within its tube and seals the entrance to molt. The tube is never moved. With last-stage larvae the tube is brown, elongate, sinuous, and 35-50 mm. Although the upper leaf tissue is left intact, it turns brown within a few days after the lower tissues are eaten. Larvae are parasitized by Braconid and Chalcid wasps(1)

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