About Acropteroxys gracilis (Newman, 1838)
Acropteroxys gracilis, commonly known as the slender lizard beetle, is a species of lizard beetle belonging to the family Erotylidae. This species is found in Central America and North America, with its range extending into Canada. Adult body length ranges from 6 to 12 millimeters. It is both narrower and shorter than its close relative A. lecontei, which is the only other currently described species in the Acropteroxys genus. A. gracilis has been recorded feeding on ambrosia plant species, including common ragweed. Since plants in the ambrosia genus are serious agricultural pests, this beetle has been studied for potential use as a biological control agent against these weeds. Despite this potential, A. gracilis is classified as an economic pest itself. It bores into the stems of Trifolium pratense (red clover), Medicago sativa (alfalfa), and Melilotus species (sweet clover), along with a number of other plants belonging to the Asteraceae, Poaceae, and Urticaceae plant families.
