Asteraceae-associates
Guides
Acinia
Acinia is a genus of tephritid fruit flies in the family Tephritidae. The genus comprises approximately 13 described species distributed primarily in the Palearctic and Nearctic regions. At least one species, Acinia picturata, has been documented in association with plants in the Asteraceae family.
Anomoea nitidicollis nitidicollis
Anomoea nitidicollis nitidicollis is a subspecies of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, tribe Clytrini. Members of this genus are associated with host plants in the family Asteraceae. The nominate subspecies occurs in North and Middle America. As with other clytrine beetles, adults are likely flower visitors and larvae develop in association with plant material.
Antistrophus jeanae
Antistrophus jeanae is a gall wasp in the family Cynipidae, described in 2004 by Tooker and Hanks. Like other members of the genus Antistrophus, this species is likely associated with specific host plants in the Asteraceae family, though detailed natural history information remains limited. The species is known from a small number of observations, suggesting it may be relatively rare or underreported. It belongs to a genus characterized by stem-galling habits on composite plants.
Crossidius
Crossidius is a genus of longhorned beetles (Cerambycidae) endemic to western North America, containing 11 described species and numerous subspecies. The genus exhibits exceptional polytopic variation, with geographically isolated populations showing marked differences in coloration, size, and elytral pattern. Unlike most cerambycids, which develop in dead wood, Crossidius species are root borers in living perennial shrubs of the Asteraceae family. Adults are diurnal and strongly associated with host plant flowers, where they feed, mate, and shelter.
Crossidius suturalis
Crossidius suturalis is a longhorn beetle species in the family Cerambycidae, described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1858. The species belongs to the tribe Trachyderini, a group of often brightly colored and flower-visiting cerambycids. Field observations indicate it is strongly associated with composite flowers (Asteraceae), particularly Isocoma tenuisecta, and shows sexual dimorphism in antennal length with males possessing longer antennae than females. Multiple subspecific taxa have been described across its range.
Landryia
Landryia is a genus of tiny moths in the family Scythrididae, described by Kemal & Koçak in 2006. These microlepidopterans are among the smallest moths, with individuals measuring approximately 4–5 mm in total length. The genus is characterized by strikingly asymmetrical genitalia, a feature that distinguishes it from related genera such as Scythris and Neoscythris. Species in this group are poorly known taxonomically, with many undescribed species likely awaiting formal description.
Myopitini
Myopitini is a tribe of fruit flies within the family Tephritidae, subfamily Tephritinae. The tribe comprises approximately eleven genera, including the well-known genus Urophora. Members are small to medium-sized flies, many of which are associated with plants in the family Asteraceae. The tribe has a primarily Palearctic distribution with some genera extending into other regions.
Neoscythris
Neoscythris is a genus of microlepidopteran moths in the family Scythrididae, established by Landry in 1991. The genus contains at least four described species found in North America. These moths are among the smallest in their family, with adults typically measuring 4–5 mm in length. They are commonly referred to as 'flower moths' due to their frequent association with flowering plants.
Phalacridae
shining flower beetles
Phalacridae is a family of small beetles commonly known as shining flower beetles. The family contains approximately 638 species in 52 genera worldwide. Adults are typically found on composite flowers, particularly Asteraceae, where they feed on pollen and floral tissues. Most species are fungivorous, though some feed on flower heads and developing seeds. The family has a fossil record extending to the Early Cretaceous.
Smicronyx pinguis
Smicronyx pinguis is a species of true weevil in the beetle family Curculionidae. It was described by Blatchley and Leng in 1916 and is known from North America, with records from Ontario, Canada. The genus Smicronyx includes seed weevils, many of which are associated with sunflower and other Asteraceae hosts, though specific biological information for S. pinguis remains sparse.
Smicronyx tesselatus
Smicronyx tesselatus is a species of true weevil in the beetle family Curculionidae. The genus Smicronyx comprises seed weevils associated with plants in the Asteraceae family, particularly sunflowers (Helianthus spp.). Several congeners in this genus are significant agricultural pests of cultivated sunflowers, though specific documentation for S. tesselatus is limited. The species was referenced in a 2021 Texas collecting trip report where it was initially misidentified as a lightly marked specimen of the related species Goes tesselatus, a cerambycid beetle.
Trupanea actinobola
Trupanea actinobola is a small fruit fly in the family Tephritidae, first described by Loew in 1873. It belongs to a genus whose larvae are known to develop in flower heads of Asteraceae. The species is documented from Canada and the United States.