Acrista Slembibreytursson, 2025
Acrista are often found around electrical cords or flowering plants.
They are characterized by a lack of wings, meaning the entire body can be interpreted as the central ridge.
Type species: Acrista cylindrica Lu, 2025
Acrista altheina Lu, 2025
Width 0.2 cm. Ridge circular in cross section. Surface doughy, sometimes cracked.
Ecology/Distribution
Plant stakes. USA.
Description
Acrista altheina is the thickest of all Acrista currently known (Feb. 11, 2026). The cracked nature of the type specimen in the photograph is likely due to its age. While it is superficially similar to Acrista cylindrica. A. altheina has a larger diameter, no indentations along its length, and a membrane of less dense material. This species is reliably found on stakes of orchids, although sometimes replaced by complectocaulids or other “orchid clips”.
The epithet “altheina” refers to the plant genus Althea, which are used to create marshmallows.
Type: 6.6 cm long, black. Collected by Bailey Z. Lu (NESRG) from an orchid stake, Northern Virginia, USA.
Acrista bacillata Kurisu, 2026
Width 0.10 cm. Ridge circular in cross section. Surface smooth.
Ecology/Distribution
Unknown. Hong Kong.
Description
This may be the shortest species description so far!
Acrista bacillata is most similar to A. cylindrica, but differs in its lack of markings.
The epithet “bacillata” refers to its rod-like shape.
Type: White. Collected and described by Kurisu (HELO) from Hong Kong.
Acrista bacillata major Kurisu, 2026
Width 0.20 cm.
Ecology/Distribution
Unknown. Hong Kong.
Description
Acrista bacillata major differs from A. bacillata bacillata by its increased width.
The epithet “major” refers to its larger width (0.20 cm compared to 0.10 cm).
Type: Black. Collected and described by Kurisu (HELO) from Hong Kong.
Acrista crystallina Lu, 2025
Width 0.22 cm. Ridge diamond in cross section. Surface glabrous.
Ecology/Distribution
Electrical cords. USA, Japan.
Description
Acrista crystallina is a distinctive Acrista by its angular, diamond-shaped cross section. White morphs have been found in Japan.
The epithet “crystallina” refers to its crystalline coloration and angular, crystal-like cross section.
Type: 20 cm long, transparent. Collected by Bailey Z. Lu (NESRG) from a bin in a scrap craft store in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Acrista cylindrica Lu, 2025
Width 0.1 cm. Ridge circular in cross section. Surface smooth, with periodical indentations.
Ecology/Distribution
Electrical cords. USA.
Description
Acrista cylindrica is characterized by its circular cross section and periodical indentations. This is a common species to find, often on other synthetic objects such as electrical cords.
The epithet “cylindrica” refers to its circular cross section.
Type: 11.9 cm long, black. Collected by Bailey Z. Lu (NESRG) from a bundle of cords in Northern Virginia, USA.
Acrista elliptica Slembibreytursson, 2025
Width 0.2 cm. Ridge elliptical in cross section. Surface smooth.
Ecology/Distribution
Electrical cords. USA.
Description
Acrista elliptica is characterized by its elliptical cross section. A long with Acrista cylindrica, this is also commonly found on other synthetic products.
The epithet “elliptica” refers to its elliptical cross section.
Type: 8.8 cm long, black. Collected by Aulax ‘Pataplenist Slembibreytursson (NESRG) from a bundle of electrical cords, in Northern Virginia, USA.
Acrista elliptica cryptica (Lu, 2025)
Width 0.15 cm.
Ecology/Distribution
Electrical cords. USA.
Description
Acrista elliptica cryptica is delineated from Acrista elliptica elliptica by its smaller width.
The infraspecific epithet “cryptica” refers to its close similarity to A. elliptica elliptica.
Type: 17.1 cm long, black. Collected by Bailey Z. Lu, in Northern Virginia, USA.
= Acrista cryptica Lu 2025
