Boraginaceae
Guides
Carmenta mariona
Carmenta mariona is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, described by William Beutenmüller in 1900. The species occurs in the western and central United States, with adults active during summer months. Larvae are root-feeding specialists on plants in the family Boraginaceae.
Carmenta verecunda
Carmenta verecunda is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, described by Henry Edwards in 1881. It occurs in the western United States, with records from Colorado, Utah, California, and Arizona. The species is a specialist herbivore whose larvae feed on Lithospermum ruderale, a plant in the borage family. Like other clearwing moths, it exhibits wasp-mimicry in its adult form.
Desmiphora hirticollis
A longhorned beetle (Cerambycidae) in the subfamily Lamiinae, characterized by dense tufts of erect hairs that provide remarkable crypsis against tree bark. Adults are strictly nocturnal and hide on the undersides of freshly cut logs during daylight hours. The species occurs from southern Texas through South America, with documented associations with trees in the family Boraginaceae as larval hosts.
Dictyla echii
Bugloss Lace Bug
A lace bug (Hemiptera: Tingidae) native to the Palearctic and introduced to North America. In Canada, it is univoltine and overwinters as adults in soil near host plant rosettes in reproductive diapause. In the Mediterranean region, it produces at least 2–3 generations annually. Associated primarily with Boraginaceae, especially Echium species. Tested as a biological control agent for Echium plantagineum (Paterson's curse) in Australia but rejected due to insufficient host specificity.
Ethmia
Ethmia is a large genus of small gelechioid moths comprising over 250 described species globally. The genus serves as the type genus for family Ethmiidae (sometimes treated as subfamily within Elachistidae or Oecophoridae). Species are characterized by distinctive black, white, and gray patterned forewings, and most larvae feed on plants in the Boraginaceae family, with Gesneriaceae recorded as an additional host family in the Neotropics. The genus exhibits greatest diversity in arid and semi-arid regions, with substantial radiations in southwestern North America and the Neotropics.
Ethmia brevistriga
Ethmia brevistriga is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, endemic to California. Adults are active from March to mid-May. The species exhibits distinct wing patterning with a white line on dark brown forewings, and has two recognized subspecies showing habitat-related color variation. Larvae are specialized feeders on Phacelia distans.
Ethmia mirusella
Ethmia mirusella is a small moth in the family Ethmiidae (formerly placed in Depressariidae). It occurs in the south-central United States, with adults active in spring and late summer through early autumn. The species exhibits bivoltine phenology with two generations per year. Larvae feed on Lithospermum species in the Boraginaceae family.
Trichodesma
Barbbells
Trichodesma is a genus of flowering plants in the borage family (Boraginaceae), comprising approximately 38 accepted species. The genus is distributed across tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Australia. Members are herbaceous plants with medicinal properties, particularly T. indicum, which is utilized in traditional medicine and has been subject to conservation concerns due to overexploitation.