Asteraceae
Guides
Euarestoides acutangulus
Euarestoides acutangulus is a species of fruit fly in the family Tephritidae, one of six recognized species in the genus Euarestoides. It has the broadest geographic distribution of any species in the genus, occurring across much of the Americas from Canada to Chile. The species is associated with plants in the Asteraceae family, particularly Ambrosia (ragweeds) and related genera. Larval development occurs within the flower heads of host plants.
Eugnosta
Eugnosta is a genus of tortricid moths in the tribe Cochylini. The genus was first reported from Chile in 2015 with the description of Eugnosta azapaensis, a gall-inducing species associated with Baccharis salicifolia in the northern Atacama Desert. Species in this genus are characterized by their association with host plants, with at least some species inducing galls on Asteraceae.
Exema
warty leaf beetles
Exema is a genus of warty leaf beetles in the tribe Fulcidacini, subfamily Cryptocephalinae. These small beetles (2–3 mm) are renowned for their remarkable fecal mimicry—when disturbed, they retract their head, legs, and antennae into grooves, resembling caterpillar frass. The genus occurs worldwide with at least 9 species in North America. Exema species have been documented on Asteraceae hosts including gray-headed coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) and sweet coneflower (Rudbeckia subtomentosa). Larvae are case-bearing, constructing protective cases from their own feces.
Exema deserti
Exema deserti is a species of warty leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, described by Pierce in 1940. It belongs to the tribe Chlamisini, commonly known as warty leaf beetles, which are characterized by their remarkable mimicry of caterpillar frass. The species is found in Central America and North America.
Fitchia
Fitchia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, tribe Coreopsideae. It is native to the Pacific region, with species occurring on islands of French Polynesia. The genus comprises herbaceous or shrubby plants bearing yellow-flowered heads characteristic of the sunflower family.
Glena
Glena is a genus of geometer moths in the family Geometridae, established by Hulst in 1896. The genus contains approximately 40 described species distributed primarily in the Americas, with documented occurrences in North America, South America, and the Caribbean. Several species have been recorded as economically significant defoliators of plantation forestry, particularly Glena bipennaria bipennaria on African mahogany (Khaya spp.) in Brazil. Host plant relationships vary among species, ranging from specialists to broader associations.
Gnorimoschema gallaeasterella
Gnorimoschema gallaeasterella is a small gelechiid moth described by D.S. Kellicott in 1878. The species is known for forming spindle-shaped galls on its host plants. It occurs across a broad geographic range in North America, with records spanning from Quebec and Alberta in Canada south to California and Tennessee. Adults are active from summer through early autumn.
Gnorimoschema subterranea
Gnorimoschema subterranea is a small moth in the family Gelechiidae, described by August Busck in 1911. The species is notable for its larval habit of forming stem galls at or beneath ground level on Aster species. It is distributed across North America from Massachusetts to California and north into Alberta and British Columbia.
Gymnocarena
fruit flies
Gymnocarena is a genus of true fruit flies (family Tephritidae) comprising 19 described species. Most species are native to North America, with one species (G. monzoni) recorded from Guatemala. Larvae develop within the heads of plants in the sunflower family (Asteraceae), feeding on developing seeds and acting as seed predators. Several species are associated with cultivated sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and can be agricultural pests. Adults are characterized by patterned wings typical of tephritid fruit flies.
Gymnocarena norrbomi
Gymnocarena norrbomi is a species of fruit fly in the family Tephritidae, described from eastern North America in 2012. The species belongs to the subfamily Tephritinae, which includes many phytophagous fruit flies that develop in plant tissues. Larvae of this species develop within the flower heads of specific Asteraceae host plants. The species is one of 19 currently recognized in the genus Gymnocarena.
Haplothrips leucanthemi
clover thrips, red clover thrips
Haplothrips leucanthemi is a tube-tailed thrips species in the family Phlaeothripidae, originally described from Europe and now recorded across North and South America. It is florivorous, feeding on flowers and pollen of Asteraceae plants, and has been observed as an effective pollinator of these hosts. The species is bisexual, contrasting with the parthenogenetic form H. niger, which molecular and microbiota studies suggest is conspecific or a biotype of H. leucanthemi rather than a distinct species.
Hesperotettix viridis
snakeweed grasshopper, meadow purple-striped grasshopper, green-streak grasshopper
Hesperotettix viridis is a medium-sized, spur-throated grasshopper in the family Acrididae, native to North America. It is an oligophagous species specialized on composite plants (Asteraceae), particularly snakeweeds (Gutierrezia spp.), goldenrods (Solidago spp.), and rabbitbrushes. Populations show host-associated genetic differentiation, with distinct lineages adapted to different host plants. The species has been investigated as a potential biological control agent for invasive snakeweeds. Four subspecies are recognized, varying in wing length and geographic distribution.
Hesperotettix viridis viridis
Snakeweed Grasshopper
Hesperotettix viridis viridis, the Snakeweed Grasshopper, is a medium-sized, oligophagous grasshopper endemic to North America that feeds primarily on composite plants (Asteraceae) in the tribe Astereae. It is notable for its host plant-associated genetic differentiation, with populations on different host plants showing significant genetic structuring. The subspecies has long wings capable of dispersal and exhibits specialized foraging behavior responsive to local food depletion.
grasshopperMelanoplinaespecialist-herbivorehost-associated-differentiationbiological-controlrangelandAsteraceaeoligophagousphytophilousecological-speciationNorth-AmericaWyomingColoradoNew-MexicoKansassnakeweedGutierreziaSolidagoAFLPpopulation-geneticsforaging-behaviordispersalsubspecies-viridis-viridisIsophrictis similiella
Isophrictis similiella is a small gelechiid moth described by V.T. Chambers in 1872. It is known from scattered localities across central and eastern North America. The species has a wingspan of approximately 11 mm. Larvae are documented to bore into the receptacles of Solanum carolinense (Carolina horsenettle) and the flowerheads of Rudbeckia hirta (black-eyed Susan).
Larinus
Larinus is a genus of true weevils (family Curculionidae) comprising approximately 180 species, with the highest diversity in the Palaearctic region, particularly Turkey where over 50 species occur. These beetles are characterized by stocky, rounded bodies and are primarily associated with plants in the family Asteraceae. Several species have been introduced to North America as biological control agents against invasive thistles, though some have demonstrated non-target effects on native thistle species.
Lipochaeta
nehe
Lipochaeta is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. The genus comprises approximately 20 accepted species, commonly known as nehe. Several species are extinct or possibly extinct, including L. bryanii, L. degeneri, L. perdita, and L. populifolia. Taxonomic relationships within the genus remain uncertain and require further phylogenetic study.
Liriomyza eupatoriella
Liriomyza eupatoriella is a species of leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae, described by Spencer in 1986. The larva creates serpentine or blotch mines within the leaves of host plants. It is specifically associated with Eupatorium species (bonesets) and related genera including white snakeroot (Ageratina altissima). The species has been documented through 220 observations on iNaturalist, indicating it is moderately well-recorded but not extensively studied in the scientific literature.
Liriomyza eupatorii
Liriomyza eupatorii is a leafminer fly in the family Agromyzidae, described by Johann Heinrich Kaltenbach in 1874. The species occurs in Europe and is known for its larvae creating mines in leaves of plants in the Asteraceae and Lamiaceae families. Host plants include hemp-agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum), various hemp-nettles (Galeopsis species), sunflowers (Helianthus), and European goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea), among others.
Liriomyza helianthi
Liriomyza helianthi is a leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae, described by Spencer in 1981. The species is a specialist herbivore whose larvae feed internally on leaf tissue, creating characteristic mines. Research has demonstrated strong female oviposition preference for its normal host Helianthus annuus (sunflower) compared to novel host plants, with larval performance generally correlating with this preference pattern. The species has potential significance as a pest of cultivated sunflower and related Asteraceae crops.
Lytta biguttata
Two-spotted Lytta
Lytta biguttata is a blister beetle in the family Meloidae, placed in the subgenus Paralytta. The species is found in arid and semi-arid regions of western North America and Central America. Like other meloids, it possesses chemical defenses and has been observed on flowers of Asteraceae, including Cirsium and yellow composite flowers.
Macrosiphoniella
Anthemid Aphids
Macrosiphoniella is a genus of aphids in the family Aphididae, comprising at least 150 described species. The genus was established by Giacomo del Guercio in 1911 and is classified within the tribe Macrosiphini. Species in this genus exhibit notable color polymorphism, with body colors ranging from green and red to white, orange, yellow, and intermediate forms. Several subgenera are recognized, including Asterobium, Ramitrichophorus, and Papillomyzus. The genus has been documented across Europe, Asia, and into North Africa.
Mannophorus forreri
Mannophorus forreri is a longhorn beetle in the family Cerambycidae, described by Henry Walter Bates in 1885. It belongs to the tribe Trachyderini, a group known for often brightly colored and patterned species. The species is rarely encountered in collections and appears to have a restricted distribution in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Field observations indicate adults are active in early autumn and visit flowers of yellow composites in mountainous areas of Arizona.
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eing-abettingbeing-facilitatingbeing-easingbeing-smoothingbeing-simplifyingbeing-clarifyingbeing-explainingbeing-interpretingbeing-translatingbeing-renderingbeing-convertingbeing-transformingbeing-changingbeing-alteringbeing-modifyingbeing-adjustingbeing-adaptingbeing-fittingbeing-suitingbeing-matchingbeing-correspondingbeing-agreeingbeing-accordingbeing-harmonizingbeing-conformingbeing-complyingbeing-observingbeing-adheringbeing-stickingbeing-clingingbeing-holdingbeing-graspingbeing-grippingbeing-seizingbeing-grabbingbeing-catchingbeing-capturingbeing-trappingbeing-snaringbeing-nettingbeing-hookingbeing-baggingbeing-landingbeing-securingbeing-obtainingbeing-acquiringbeing-gettingbeing-gainingbeing-winningbeing-earningbeing-achievingbeing-attainingbeing-reachingbeing-arrivingbeing-comingbeing-appearingbeing-emergingbeing-materializingbeing-manifestingbeing-showingbeing-displayingbeing-exhibitingbeing-presentingbeing-offeringbeing-givingbeing-grantingbeing-bestowingbeing-conferringbeing-awardingbeing-giftingbeing-donatingbeing-contributingbeing-sharingbeing-participatingbeing-engagingbeing-involvingbeing-committingbeing-dedicatingbeing-devotingbeing-attachingMecas cana
Mecas cana is a longhorn beetle species in the family Cerambycidae, described by Newman in 1840. The species is distributed across North America, including the United States and Mexico. Two subspecies are recognized: Mecas cana cana (the nominate subspecies) and Mecas cana saturnina (LeConte, 1859). Like other members of the genus Mecas, this species is associated with plants in the sunflower family (Asteraceae), where larvae bore into stems and roots.
Mecas marginella
Mecas marginella is a species of longhorn beetle (family Cerambycidae) first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1873. It is native to the United States and belongs to a genus whose members are commonly known as girdlers due to their habit of girdling plant stems. Like other Mecas species, it likely develops as a stem- and root-borer in host plants, though specific details for this species remain poorly documented.
Mecas pergrata
Mecas pergrata is a longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, described by Thomas Say in 1824. Adults are 6–12 mm in length with gray pubescence. The species is a stem- and root-borer that exploits plants in the sunflower family (Asteraceae), including cultivated sunflowers. It is known from Mexico and the United States.
Megetra
Red-banded Blister Beetles
Megetra is a North American genus of blister beetles (Meloidae) comprising three species: M. cancellata, M. punctata, and M. vittata. These beetles are characterized by their distinctive aposematic coloration—typically red or orange markings on black elytra—advertising their chemical defenses. The genus occurs in arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where adults are active during late summer and early fall, primarily on flowers of Asteraceae.
Microrhopala rubrolineata rubrolineata
A subspecies of hispine leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, Microrhopala rubrolineata rubrolineata is found in western North America. The species Microrhopala rubrolineata, along with the eastern M. vittata, belongs to a genus of leaf-feeding beetles that specialize on Asteraceae host plants. Adults and larvae both feed on their host plants, with larvae mining within leaves.
Nemognatha macswaini
Nemognatha macswaini is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae, subfamily Nemognathinae. It was described by W.R. Enns in 1956. The species is found in North America and is part of a genus characterized by elongated, nectar-feeding mouthparts adapted to flowers with deep corollas. Like other Nemognatha species, it likely feeds on pollen and nectar as an adult.
Nemorimyza
Nemorimyza is a genus of leaf-mining flies in the family Agromyzidae, established by Frey in 1946. The genus contains at least three described species distributed across multiple continents. Some species are documented as pests of cultivated plants, particularly within the Asteraceae family. The genus belongs to the subfamily Phytomyzinae, a group characterized by larval feeding habits that create distinctive mines in leaf tissue.
Neolasioptera erigerontis
Neolasioptera erigerontis is a gall midge in the family Cecidomyiidae, first described by Ephraim Porter Felt in 1907. The specific epithet "erigerontis" indicates an association with plants in the genus Erigeron (fleabanes). Like other members of its genus, this species is presumed to induce galls on its host plants. The species is documented in North American collections and has been recorded in citizen science observations.
Neolasioptera undescribed-species-on-erechtites
An undescribed species of gall midge in the genus Neolasioptera that forms galls on plants of the genus Erechtites. Like other members of this genus, it induces gall formation on host plant tissues. The species remains formally undescribed in the scientific literature. Its association with Erechtites distinguishes it from described congeners that attack other host plants.
Neotephritis
sunflower seed maggot
Neotephritis is a genus of tephritid fruit flies established by Hendel in 1935. The genus contains approximately 12 described species distributed in the Americas. At least one species, Neotephritis finalis, is a documented pest of cultivated sunflowers, with larvae feeding within developing flower heads and reducing seed set. Adults are characterized by patterned wings typical of Tephritidae, often with dark markings and hyaline spots.
Olibrus
shining flower beetles
Olibrus is a genus of shining flower beetles (family Phalacridae) containing at least 30 described species. Members are small beetles associated with Asteraceae flowers, where they develop and feed. The genus has been studied for its potential in biological control of weedy Asteraceae species. Species occur across Europe and North America, with records from Scandinavia, Denmark, and the northeastern United States.
Oncerometopus atriscutis
Oncerometopus atriscutis is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, described by Knight in 1928. The species belongs to the genus Oncerometopus, a group of mirid bugs associated with flowering plants. Observations indicate it occurs on yellow composite flowers in western Texas, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. The species name refers to the dark scutellum characteristic of this taxon.
Ophiomyia antennariae
Ophiomyia antennariae is a recently described species of leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae, described by Eiseman and Lonsdale in 2019. The species is named for its association with host plants in the genus Antennaria (pussytoes), indicating a specialized herbivorous relationship. As a member of the genus Ophiomyia, it likely produces serpentine or blotch mines in leaves, though specific mine morphology has not been formally documented in the original description. The species represents part of the diverse radiation of agromyzid flies that specialize on Asteraceae host plants.
Ophiomyia asterovora-like
Ophiomyia asterovora-like refers to a morphologically similar species or species complex within the genus Ophiomyia, a group of minute leaf-mining flies (Diptera: Agromyzidae). These flies are characterized by reduced wing venation and larvae that create serpentine or blotch mines in Asteraceae host plants. The "asterovora-like" designation indicates taxonomic uncertainty, likely reflecting specimens that match O. asterovora in general appearance but may represent distinct, undescribed, or cryptic species. Members of this group are small, dark flies with distinctive male genitalia that require microscopic examination for definitive identification.
Ophiomyia new-species-on-pyrrhopappus
Ophiomyia new-species-on-pyrrhopappus is an undescribed species of agromyzid fly in the genus Ophiomyia. It is associated with Pyrrhopappus, a genus of plants in the Asteraceae family. As a newly recognized taxon, formal description and characterization remain pending. The species exemplifies ongoing discovery of specialized herbivorous insects associated with particular host plants.
Ophraella communa
ragweed leaf beetle
Ophraella communa is a small leaf beetle native to North America that has been introduced to Europe and Asia as a biological control agent for the invasive weed common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia). Adults and larvae feed on leaves and flowers of Asteraceae, with a strong preference for ragweed. The species has demonstrated rapid adaptive evolution of cold tolerance in newly colonized regions, facilitating northward expansion. Multiple mating is positively associated with fitness in this species, with females preferring larger males that confer reproductive advantages through seminal fluid proteins.
Ophraella notulata
Marsh Elder Leaf Beetle
Ophraella notulata is a Nearctic skeletonizing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, found in Gulf Coast states of the United States and Mexico. It was previously described as O. integra (LeConte), now synonymized with O. notulata (Fabricius). The species is specialized on host plants in the Asteraceae family, primarily Iva frutescens (marsh elder), with documented ability to utilize Ambrosia artemisiifolia (ragweed) as an alternative host. Research has demonstrated complex transgenerational effects of host plant on offspring fitness and behavior.
Orthocephalus coriaceus
hairy plant bug
Orthocephalus coriaceus is a plant bug in the family Miridae. It is native to Europe, including European Russia, Ukraine, and the Balkans, and has been introduced to North America. The species feeds on various Asteraceae plants and is known to occur as a horticultural pest in North America.
Oxyna
Oxyna is a genus of tephritid fruit flies (Tephritidae) comprising at least 20 described species. Members of this genus are associated with Asteraceae host plants, with some species studied for their potential as biological control agents against invasive weeds. The genus has been documented in northern Europe including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Papilio machaon aliaska
Alaskan Old World Swallowtail
Papilio machaon aliaska is a subspecies of the Old World Swallowtail butterfly found in Alaska. It represents a distinct population that has colonized novel host plants in the Asteraceae family in addition to its ancestral Apiaceae hosts. Studies indicate that larval fitness is highest on the ancestral host plant Cnidium cnidiifolium when reared in controlled environments without predation, though field observations suggest survival advantages on novel hosts when natural enemies are present. The subspecies demonstrates the complex ecological and evolutionary dynamics of host plant relationships in swallowtail butterflies.
Phanacis hypochoeridis
Catsear Gall Wasp
Phanacis hypochoeridis is a gall wasp in the family Cynipidae. It induces galls on plants in the Asteraceae family, specifically on catsear (Hypochaeris radicata) and related species. The species is native to Europe and has been introduced to other regions including Oceania. As a gall-former, it manipulates host plant tissue to create a protective structure for its developing larvae.
Phytomyza syngenesiae
Chrysanthemum Leafminer, Ragwort Leaf Miner
Phytomyza syngenesiae is an agromyzid leaf-mining fly found in the Palaearctic region, Australia, and New Zealand. The larvae create internal leaf mines in members of the Asteraceae family, including chrysanthemums, ragwort (Senecio), and artichokes. The species is recognized as an agricultural pest in greenhouse and crop settings, with significant variation in host plant susceptibility among cultivars.
Piezogaster calcarator
leaf-footed bug
Piezogaster calcarator is a species of leaf-footed bug in the family Coreidae, first described by Fabricius in 1803. A taxonomic revision resurrected P. alternatus (Say) from synonymy under P. calcarator, clarifying that these are distinct species with overlapping ranges in the United States and Mexico. The species is found in North America, where it has been observed congregating on inflorescences of Verbesina alternifolia (yellow ironweed) in dry-mesic loess woodland habitats.
Procecidochares
gall flies
Procecidochares is a genus of tephritid fruit flies comprising approximately 20 described species. All members are gall-formers on Asteraceae plants, with larvae developing within stem or branch galls. The genus has gained significant attention for the species P. utilis, widely deployed as a biological control agent against the invasive weed Ageratina adenophora. Research on Procecidochares has contributed to understanding host selection genetics and sympatric speciation mechanisms in phytophagous insects.
Pyrausta phoenicealis
perilla leaf moth, Phoenician pyrausta moth
Pyrausta phoenicealis is a crambid moth with a nearly cosmopolitan distribution across the Americas, Africa, Australia, and Asia. It is a documented agricultural pest, particularly in South Korea where it damages Perilla (shiso) crops. Larvae feed on plants in the mint family (Lamiaceae) and related Asteraceae, binding leaves with silk to form protective shelters. The species is frequently confused with Pyrausta panopealis due to morphological similarity, but genetic analysis reveals approximately 4.62% COI divergence between them.
Pyrota bilineata
Pyrota bilineata is a blister beetle (family Meloidae) distributed across western North America. The species exhibits extreme sexual size dimorphism, with males frequently less than half the size of females. Adults are diurnal and commonly observed feeding and mating on flowers of yellow rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus) and related Asteraceae. Like other meloids, it produces cantharidin, a defensive compound that renders it unpalatable to predators.
Rhopalomyia erigerontis
Rhopalomyia erigerontis is a gall midge in the family Cecidomyiidae. It is known to induce galls on Erigeron (fleabane) species. The species was described by Felt in 1916. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with Asteraceae host plants.
Schinia bicuspida
Schinia bicuspida is a small noctuid moth with a wingspan of approximately 23 mm. It occurs across the south-central and southwestern United States. The larvae feed on specific host plants in the aster family, including Isocoma drummondii and Machaeranthera annua. Like other members of the genus Schinia, adults are likely associated with the flowers of their larval host plants.