acroleenia

Acroleenia is a small genus of moths in the family Acrolepiidae (order Lepidoptera). It was first described by the German entomologist Otto Staudinger in 1870, who identified the type species Acroleenia strigosa from specimens collected in the Carpathian Mountains. The genus is characterised by a wingspan of 10–14 mm, narrow forewings with a distinctive white streak that is interrupted at the wing margin, and a pronouncedly scaled labial palpus. Adults are typically active from late June to early August, with a single generation per year in most of their range.

The known species of Acroleenia are restricted to the Palearctic region, with documented occurrences in central Europe, Russia, and parts of north‑western China. Larvae of the genus specialise in mining the leaves of several Apiaceae species, notably wild carrot (Daucus carota) and fennel (Foenus vulgaris). The mines are narrow, serpentine corridors that are visible as translucent patches on the leaf blade. Larval development occurs from late spring to mid‑summer, after which pupation takes place within a cocoon in the leaf litter. The moths are considered minor agricultural pests in regions where Apiaceae crops are cultivated, although their overall impact on crop yields is negligible.

Research on Acroleenia is limited, primarily restricted to taxonomic surveys and sporadic ecological observations. No subspecies have been formally described, and the genus is not currently listed as threatened by the IUCN. Further studies are needed to clarify its phylogenetic relationships within Acrolepiidae and to assess potential shifts in distribution associated with climate change.