Asteraceae
Guides
Schinia gracilenta
Slender Flower Moth, Iva Flower Moth
Schinia gracilenta is a small noctuid moth native to North America, first described by Jacob Hübner in 1818. The species has a wingspan of approximately 28 mm and produces one generation annually. It is listed as endangered in Connecticut, reflecting localized population concerns in parts of its range.
Schinia grandimedia
Rockies Boneset Flower Moth
Schinia grandimedia, known as the Rockies Boneset Flower Moth, is a small noctuid moth described by David F. Hardwick in 1996. The species exhibits a highly specialized ecological relationship with its host plant, feeding on Brickellia eupatorioides during its larval stage. It occurs in the south-central United States with a distribution centered on the Rocky Mountain foothills and adjacent plains. The moth has a single annual generation and is active during the summer months.
Schinia trifascia
Three-lined Flower Moth
Schinia trifascia, commonly known as the three-lined flower moth, is a small noctuid moth with a wingspan of 20–31 mm. Adults are active from July to October and have one generation per year. The species is notable for its close association with specific host plants in the aster family, with larvae feeding on Brickellia, Eupatorium, and Liatris.
Schinia villosa
Little Dark Gem
Schinia villosa, commonly known as the Little Dark Gem, is a small noctuid moth first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1864. It is primarily a western North American species associated with montane habitats, though its range extends eastward across the Canadian prairies. The species exhibits the typical Schinia trait of flower-visiting behavior, with adults active in mid-summer and larvae feeding on Asteraceae hosts.
Schizomyia verbesinae
Schizomyia verbesinae is a gall midge species in the family Cecidomyiidae that induces galls on Verbesina species (sunflower family, Asteraceae). As a member of the genus Schizomyia, it is part of a diverse group of gall-forming midges specialized on asteraceous host plants. The species is documented through gall observations and adult collections, primarily in North America where its host plants occur.
Scythris fuscicomella
flower moth
Scythris fuscicomella is a species of flower moth in the family Scythrididae, described by Clemens in 1860. It is a microlepidopteran with adults typically measuring 4–5 mm in length. The species has been recorded from Manitoba, Canada, and is associated with composite flowers in prairie habitats. Adults are active in late summer and early fall.
Scythris immaculatella
Scythris immaculatella is a minute moth species in the family Scythrididae, first described from North America in 1875. The species belongs to a group commonly known as flower moths, characterized by their extremely small size and association with flowering plants. Records indicate a Holarctic distribution spanning North America and Eurasia. Like many scythridids, its biology remains poorly documented.
Scythris inornatella
Scythris inornatella is a microlepidopteran moth in the family Scythrididae, commonly known as flower moths. The species belongs to a poorly studied group with many undescribed taxa. Available records indicate adults are associated with composite flowers (Asteraceae). Like other Scythris species, it is presumed to have small larvae that feed internally on plant tissues, though specific life history details for this species remain undocumented.
Strauzia intermedia
Strauzia intermedia is a species of tephritid fruit fly in the family Tephritidae. The species was originally described as Trypeta intermedia by Loew in 1873. It has been documented developing in Rudbeckia laciniata (cutleaf coneflower), indicating a specialized host relationship with this plant. As a member of the genus Strauzia, it belongs to a group of fruit flies commonly associated with Asteraceae host plants.
Tephritis
Tephritis is a large genus of true fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) comprising approximately 170 described species, making it the sixth largest genus in the family. Species occur across diverse climate zones from hot semidesert to tundra, with the greatest diversity in the Palearctic region. Most species are associated with Asteraceae plants, inhabiting inflorescences of several tribes including Cardueae, Cichorieae, Anthemideae, Inuleae, and Senecioneae. Some species cause gall formation on host plants. The genus has been extensively studied for host-race formation and incipient speciation, particularly in T. conura and T. bardanae, which show genetic and morphological differentiation correlated with host-plant use.
Tephritis angustipennis
narrow-winged fruit fly
Tephritis angustipennis is a tephritid fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) first described by Loew in 1844. It is a phytophagous seed predator specializing on Asteraceae plants, particularly Aster species. The species is notable for its narrow wings with reduced pattern elements compared to congeners. It has been recorded across Europe, Asia, and North America, with recent studies documenting significant populations in the Three Rivers Source Region of China where it impacts native Aster seed production. T. angustipennis was recently synonymized with T. ptarmicae Hering, 1935.
Terellia
Terellia is a genus of fruit flies in the family Tephritidae, comprising approximately 60 described species distributed across the Palearctic region. Species in this genus are primarily associated with thistles and related plants in the Asteraceae family, with larvae developing in flower heads (capitula) of their host plants. The genus includes several species groups (virens group, amberboae group, tarbinskiorum group) distinguished by morphological characters and host associations. Terellia ruficauda has been used as a biological control agent for Canada thistle.
Tomoplagia
Tomoplagia is a genus of tephritid fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) comprising approximately 60 described species. The genus is primarily Neotropical in distribution, with species recorded from Brazil and other South American regions. Larvae develop within plant tissues of Asteraceae, with documented associations including flower heads and stem galls on members of the tribe Vernonieae. Host specialization varies among species, ranging from monophagy to oligophagy on related host plants.
Townsendia
grounddaisies
Townsendia is a North American genus of perennial herbs in the Asteraceae family, commonly known as grounddaisies. Species typically form low-growing rosettes with showy capitula and exhibit specialized reproductive strategies including sexual diploidy and apomictic polyploidy. Some species display narrow edaphic specialization, such as T. lemhiensis which is restricted to ashy white soils in Idaho. The genus shows patterns of geographic parthenogenesis linked to glacial history.
Trichodes bibalteatus
checkered beetle
Trichodes bibalteatus is a species of checkered beetle in the family Cleridae. It is among the largest and most strikingly-colored species in its genus, which contains 11 North American species. Adults are frequently found on flowers where they feed on pollen and nectar, and also use flowers as mating sites. The species has been documented in Oklahoma and other parts of western North America.
Trichodes peninsularis
checkered beetle
Trichodes peninsularis is a species of checkered beetle in the family Cleridae, first described by Horn in 1894. The species occurs in Central America and North America, with two recognized subspecies: T. p. basalis and T. p. horni. Field observations document adults visiting flowers of Isocoma tenuisecta, Gutierrezia microcephala, and Hymenothrix wislizeni in the southwestern United States.
Trichordestra lilacina
Aster Cutworm
Trichordestra lilacina, commonly known as the aster cutworm, is a noctuid moth species native to North America. The common name refers to its larval stage, which functions as a cutworm—feeding on plants at or below soil level. Adults are nocturnal and belong to the diverse dart moth group within Noctuidae. The species has been documented across Canada and the northern United States.
Trirhabda
skeletonizing leaf beetles, goldenrod beetles
Trirhabda is a genus of skeletonizing leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae, comprising over 30 described species distributed in North America and Mexico. These beetles are specialist herbivores primarily associated with plants in the Asteraceae family, particularly goldenrods (Solidago), asters, and related composites. The genus has been extensively studied in ecological research due to its host-specific feeding habits, density-dependent dispersal behaviors, and potential keystone species effects on plant community dynamics. Several species are notable for sequestering defensive compounds and exhibiting complex movement behaviors in response to landscape structure and host plant quality.
Trirhabda diducta
skeletonizing leaf beetle
Trirhabda diducta is a species of skeletonizing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by George Henry Horn in 1893. The genus Trirhabda comprises approximately 26 North American species, most of which are associated with goldenrod (Solidago) and related Asteraceae hosts. Like congeners, T. diducta is expected to be a specialist herbivore with larvae that mine leaves and adults that skeletonize foliage. The species occurs across North America, though specific host associations and detailed biology remain poorly documented compared to better-studied relatives such as T. canadensis and T. virgata.
Trirhabda sericotrachyla
California sagebrush leaf beetle
Trirhabda sericotrachyla is a species of skeletonizing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by Blake in 1931. It is known from western North America, with records from British Columbia and California. The species is associated with California sagebrush (Artemisia californica) as a host plant, reflecting the genus-wide pattern of specialization on Asteraceae. Like other Trirhabda species, adults feed externally on leaves while larvae skeletonize foliage between the veins.
Trirhabda virgata
goldenrod beetle, goldenrod leaf beetle
Trirhabda virgata is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, commonly known as the goldenrod beetle. It is native to North America and specializes on goldenrod plants (Solidago spp.) in the Asteraceae family. The species has been extensively studied for its host plant relationships, density-dependent dispersal behavior, and potential role as a keystone herbivore in old field ecosystems. Adults and larvae feed on goldenrod foliage, with larvae causing significant defoliation during outbreak conditions.
Trupanea
Trupanea is a genus of tephritid fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) established by Schrank in 1795. Recent taxonomic revisions have synonymized the genera Celidosphenella and Melanotrypana with Trupanea, transferring multiple species to this genus. Species within Trupanea are primarily associated with Asteraceae host plants, with larvae developing in flower heads. The genus has a broad geographic distribution including the Neotropical region, North America, Hawaii, Europe, and North Africa.
Trypeta flaveola
Trypeta flaveola is a tephritid fruit fly described by Coquillett in 1899. The species is widely distributed across North America. Its larvae are leaf miners that develop within the leaves of several genera in the Asteraceae family. The species is part of the diverse genus Trypeta, which contains numerous leaf-mining fruit flies.
Uroleucon ambrosiae
Brown Ambrosia Aphid
Uroleucon ambrosiae is a medium-sized aphid in the family Aphididae, commonly known as the brown ambrosia aphid. Native to North America, it exhibits geographic variation in host specificity, with eastern populations highly specialized on giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida) while southwestern populations feed more broadly on Asteraceae plants. In Brazil, it has emerged as a significant pest of hydroponically-grown lettuce, where it vectors lettuce mosaic virus and promotes sooty mold through honeydew excretion. The species reproduces parthenogenetically during spring and summer, forming all-female colonies. Its populations serve as important prey for diverse natural enemies including flower fly larvae, lady beetles, lacewings, and parasitic wasps, making it a key component of biological control food webs in both natural and agricultural systems.
Uroleucon erigeronense
Large fleabane daisy aphid
Uroleucon erigeronense is a species of aphid in the family Aphididae, first described by Thomas in 1878. It feeds primarily on plants in the Asteraceae family, with a particular association with Erigeron (fleabane) species. The species exhibits flexible reproductive strategies: holocyclic in northern climates, producing sexual forms in autumn, and anholocyclic in warmer regions. It shows seasonal host-shifting behavior, moving between overwintering perennial hosts and blooming annuals. Native to North America, it has been introduced to Europe, Australia, and Korea.
Uroleucon eupatoricolens
Uroleucon eupatoricolens is an aphid species in the family Aphididae. Like other members of the genus Uroleucon, it is a sap-sucking insect that feeds on plants in the Asteraceae family. The species reproduces parthenogenetically during spring and summer, producing all-female colonies. When disturbed, colonies exhibit synchronized twitching and kicking defensive behaviors. These aphids serve as important prey for diverse predator communities including lady beetles, lacewings, flower flies, and spiders.
Uroleucon nigrotuberculatum
red goldenrod aphid
Uroleucon nigrotuberculatum, commonly known as the red goldenrod aphid, is a North American aphid species introduced to Japan. In its native range, it is a specialist feeder on Solidago (goldenrod) species. Following introduction to Japan, this aphid has demonstrated remarkable dietary flexibility, expanding its host range to include multiple exotic plant species beyond its native specialization. The species exhibits complex ecological interactions, including semiochemical-mediated relationships with gall-forming flies and serves as prey for various native parasitoids and predators in its introduced range.
Uroleucon obscuricaudatum
Dusky-tailed Sunflower Aphid
Uroleucon obscuricaudatum is a North American aphid species in the family Aphididae, commonly known as the Dusky-tailed Sunflower Aphid. It is a specialist feeder on Heliopsis helianthoides (oxeye sunflower) and related Asteraceae plants. The species exhibits typical aphid life history traits including parthenogenetic reproduction during the growing season. Like other Uroleucon species, it produces honeydew and serves as prey for diverse natural enemies including lady beetles, flower flies, lacewings, and spiders.
Uroleucon pseudambrosiae
Wild Lettuce Aphid
Uroleucon pseudambrosiae is a North American aphid species that feeds on wild lettuce (Lactuca spp.) and related Asteraceae plants including dandelion (Taraxacum), pilewort (Erechtites hieracifolia), and Sonchus asper. It is known to serve as a vector for watermelon mosaic virus. The species exhibits parthenogenetic reproduction during spring and summer, forming all-female colonies.
Uroleucon sonchi
Sow-thistle Aphid, Large Sow-thistle Aphid, Brown Lettuce Aphid
Uroleucon sonchi is a large aphid species in the family Aphididae, commonly known as the sow-thistle aphid or brown lettuce aphid. Native to the Palaearctic region, it has been introduced to multiple continents and is now cosmopolitan in distribution. The species is economically significant as a pest of cultivated lettuce and related crops, while also occurring on wild Asteraceae hosts. It reproduces parthenogenetically during spring and summer, typical of many aphids.
Uroleucon taraxaci
Bronze-brown Dandelion Aphid
Uroleucon taraxaci is a species of aphid in the family Aphididae, commonly known as the Bronze-brown Dandelion Aphid. As a member of the genus Uroleucon, it shares characteristics with related species that exhibit parthenogenetic reproduction during spring and summer, forming all-female colonies. The species is associated with plants in the Asteraceae family, particularly dandelion (Taraxacum). Like other Uroleucon aphids, it produces honeydew that attracts predators and parasitoids. The species has been documented across parts of Europe and Asia.
Uroleucon verbesinae
Bicolored Frostweed Aphid
Uroleucon verbesinae is a North American aphid species in the family Aphididae. It belongs to the large genus Uroleucon, whose members typically feed on plants in the Asteraceae family. The species reproduces parthenogenetically during spring and summer, producing all-female colonies. Like other Uroleucon aphids, it exhibits synchronized defensive behaviors when disturbed.
Urophora
thistle gall flies, gall flies
Urophora is a genus of tephritid flies distributed across the Palaearctic Region, with species exhibiting close associations with Asteraceae plants. Larvae of many species induce galls on stems or other plant parts of thistles and related plants. The genus includes at least 13 species in Karaman Province, Türkiye alone, with new species continuing to be documented. Urophora cardui, a well-studied species, forms multi-chambered stem galls on Cirsium spp. and serves as host for multiple parasitoid wasps.
Zygogramma signatipennis
Zygogramma signatipennis is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae found in Mexico. The species has been documented feeding on acahual plants (Tithonia tubaeformis, Asteraceae), causing moderate to severe defoliation damage specifically to this host. Research suggests it shows greater feeding preference for plants in the vegetative stage and has been proposed as a potential biological control agent for management of T. tubaeformis as a weed. The species was originally described by Stål in 1859.