Controls proneural and vein forming genes. Positive transcriptional controler of AC-SC (achaete-scute). May act as an activator that interacts with the transcriptional complex assembled on the AC and SC promoters and participates in transcription initiation. 'Araucan' is named after the Araucanian American-Indian tribe, also called Mohawks, who shaved all but a medial stripe of hairs on the head. Belongs to the TALE/IRO homeobox family.