Ash-pest
Guides
Aceria fraxiniflora
ash flower gall mite
Aceria fraxiniflora is a North American gall mite that produces distinctive galls on ash trees, particularly on male flowers. Native to North America, it was first recorded in Europe in southeast Hungary in 2017 and has since spread rapidly across eight Central-Eastern European countries by 2023. The mite appears to be a strict specialist on North American ash species, with no records from native European ashes. Its rapid spread on invasive green ash has raised interest in its potential as a biocontrol agent, though its real impact on host fitness remains unquantified.
Caloptilia
leaf cone moths, leaf blotch miner moths
Caloptilia is a genus of small moths in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as leaf cone moths or leaf blotch miner moths. Larvae are leaf miners that typically feed internally on leaf tissue during early instars, then later instars roll or fold leaves into protective cones or shelters where they complete development and pupate. The genus contains numerous species, many of which are host-specific to particular tree or shrub genera. Several species have become economically significant as pests of ornamental and horticultural plants, including Caloptilia fraxinella on ash trees and Caloptilia azaleella on azaleas.
Caloptilia fraxinella
Ash Leaf Cone Roller, Ash Leaf Cone Roller Moth
Caloptilia fraxinella is a leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. Native to North America, it has become a significant pest of horticultural ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) in Canadian Prairie cities and parts of the United States. The species exhibits an unusual life history with a 9-month adult reproductive diapause; adults eclose in summer, overwinter, and mate the following spring. Larvae mine ash leaves and eventually roll leaflets into cones for pupation.
Podosesia aureocincta
Banded Ash Borer Moth, Banded Ash Clearwing
Podosesia aureocincta is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae that infests ash trees (Fraxinus spp.). Unlike the invasive emerald ash borer, this native pest causes gradual damage over years or decades rather than rapid tree mortality. Adults emerge in late summer, exhibiting Batesian mimicry of paper wasps with their yellow-banded abdomens and clear wings. Larvae tunnel beneath bark, producing sawdust-like frass and round exit holes distinct from the D-shaped holes of emerald ash borer. The species is distributed across the Nearctic region.
Prociphilus fraxinifolii
leafcurl ash aphid
Prociphilus fraxinifolii, commonly known as the leafcurl ash aphid, is a species of woolly aphid in the family Aphididae. It is a specialist feeder on ash (Fraxinus) species, causing characteristic leaf curl damage to host plants. Like other members of the genus Prociphilus, it produces dense white waxy secretions that give colonies a distinctive woolly appearance. The species has been documented in parts of Europe including Serbia, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Poland, with observations also recorded in North America.
Siphoninus phillyreae
ash whitefly
Siphoninus phillyreae, commonly known as the ash whitefly, is a polyphagous whitefly species native to western Eurasia, India, and North Africa. It has been introduced to North America, South America, and Oceania, where it is recognized as a significant agricultural pest. The species feeds on a broad range of host plants including ash, pomegranate, apple, pear, and other fruit trees. Encarsia inaron is a primary parasitoid used for its biological control.
Tomostethus
ash sawflies
Tomostethus is a genus of sawflies in the family Tenthredinidae, first described by Konow in 1886. Species within this genus are associated with ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) and are recognized as pests of economic and ecological significance. The genus includes species such as T. nigritus, T. multicinctus, and T. sinofraxini, which have been documented across Europe and Asia. Several species have shown capacity for population outbreaks, particularly in urban environments.
Tomostethus multicinctus
brownheaded ash sawfly
Tomostethus multicinctus, commonly known as the brownheaded ash sawfly, is a sawfly species in the family Tenthredinidae native to southern Canada and the eastern United States. Adults are wasp-like in appearance but do not sting. The larvae are specialized herbivores that feed gregariously on ash foliage, with a life cycle tightly synchronized with the leaf phenology of their host trees. Heavy infestations can cause complete defoliation within a week, though trees typically recover by producing new foliage.