Acrocercops astericola

(Frey & Boll, 1873)

Sort #: 360 | P #: 330408 | MPG #: 692
View on BugGuide | View on iNaturalist | BOLD Link

Larval feeding type: Interparenchymal leaf-mine, pupates outside the mine is a silken cocoon
Larval substrate: Eurybia divaricata* (White Wood-aster), Eurybia schreberi* (Schreber's Wood-aster), Symphyotrichum cordifolium* (Heart-leaved American-aster), Symphyotrichum puniceum* (Purple-stemmed American-aster), Symphyotrichum lateriflorum* (Calico American-aster), Oclemena acuminata* (Whorled Aster), Euthamia graminifolia* (Grass-leaved Goldenrod), Inula germanica (German Elecampan)
Phenology: Adult: 5/10 to 10/13 (14 records)

Comment: Described from Massachusetts; can be mistaken for L. venustella, but A. astericola has no white along the base of the dorsum; the tarsi in both species are banded, not plain white as in Leucospilapteryx n.sp. This species likely does not belong in the genus Acrocercops.

Status in MA (automated assessment): Fairly widespread, common
Status in N. America: Native
MA Endangered Species Act status: None
First Year Reported: 1871
Last Year Reported: 2025

Distribution by County: Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester, Middlesex, Essex
Number of Records: 36