›› 2018, Vol. 61 ›› Issue (9): 1067-1075.doi: 10.16380/j.kcxb.2018.09.008

• RESEARCH PAPERS • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Analysis of the diversity of host plants of Gracillariidae (Lepidoptera) in China

BAI Hai-Yan, TIE Jun, HOU Qin-Wen   

  1. (Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Changzhi College, Ecological and Environmental Research Institute of Taihang Mountain, Changzhi, Shanxi 046011, China)
  • Online:2018-09-20 Published:2018-09-20

Abstract: 【Aim】 To summarize host plant species of gracillariid moths in China, and to analyze the relationship between the diversity of gracillariid moths and the diversity of their host plants. 【Methods】 Domestic and foreign published literatures were referred to count the taxa of host plants of gracillariid moths in China. SPSS version 19.0 was used to analyze the data on diversity of both gracillariid moths and their host plants. 【Results】 There are 149 gracillariid species with host plant records in China, under 4 subfamilies and 37 genera. Host plants of gracillariid moths are numerous, with 435 species of 153 genera of 49 families, and the major host plant families are Leguminosae, Fagaceae, Salicaceae, Rosaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Polygonaceae and Rutaceae. In addition to three families of Monocotyledoneae and one family of Gymnospermae, the major host plants belong to Dicotyledoneae and Angiospermae. Gracillriinae holds the most host plants including 43 families, 129 genera and 430 species, and then Lithocolletinae with 12 families, 29 genera and 87 species, Phyllocnistinae with 5 families, 10 genera and 38 species, and Oecophyllembiinae only with 4 families, 5 genera and 7 species. At the gracillariid genus level, 14 genera of gracillriid can infest more than two families of host plants. Host range in Caloptilia is the widest with 18 families, 37 genera and 111 species, and then Phyllonorycter with 10 families, 18 genera and 68 species. Among different host plants, the species of gracillariid moths are also diverse. At the host family level, 22 families can be infested by over two genera of gracillariid moths. Leguminosae host the most number of gracillariid genera, including 14 gracillariid genera, and then Euphorbiaceae and Fagaceae, including 8 and 7 gracillariid genera, respectively. At the host genus level, 37 genera can be infested by two or more genera of gracillariid moths, the remaining 116 genera are only infested by one gracillariid genus respectively. Significantly positive correlations (R2>0.60, P<0.01) between the gracillariid species number at the subfamily and genus levels and the species, genus and family numbers of host plants were found. 【Conclusion】 The richness of gracillariid species positively correlates the range of their host plants. The feeding habits of gracillariid moths comprise both monophagy and oligophagy.

Key words: Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae, host plants, diversity, feeding habit, coevolution, China