Chestnut
Guides
Atymna castaneae
Atymna castaneae is a treehopper species in the family Membracidae, first described by Asa Fitch in 1851. It is a specialist herbivore restricted to chestnut trees (Castanea spp.), feeding on both the American chestnut (C. dentata) and Allegheny chinquapin (C. pumila). The species epithet directly reflects this host association. Its historical distribution across eastern North America has been impacted by the decline of its primary host due to chestnut blight.
Coptotriche citrinipennella
A small leaf-mining moth in the family Tischeriidae, first described from North America in 1859. The species is notable for its broad host range across both chestnut (Castanea) and oak (Quercus) genera. Larvae create distinctive mines in leaves of their host plants. It occurs across eastern North America from Canada to the southern United States.
Macrodiplosis castaneae
Macrodiplosis castaneae is a gall midge in the family Cecidomyiidae. The species is associated with chestnut trees (Castanea spp.), though specific ecological details remain poorly documented. It was described by Stebbins in 1910 and is currently listed as a synonym of Harmandiola castaneae in some taxonomic databases.
Nematus castaneae
Nematus castaneae is a species of sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae. It is associated with chestnut trees (Castanea spp.), though specific ecological details remain poorly documented. The species is part of a community of insects historically linked to American chestnut (Castanea dentata), which experienced severe population decline following the introduction of chestnut blight fungus in the early 20th century. Like other Nematus species, it likely has a holometabolous life cycle with larval stages that feed on host plant foliage.
Phyllonorycter kearfottella
Phyllonorycter kearfottella is a minute leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, with a wingspan of approximately 7 mm. The species is restricted to the eastern and northwestern United States, where its larvae create blotch mines on leaves of Castanea species. It was described by Annette Braun in 1908.
Proserpinus gaurae
proud sphinx moth, Proud Sphinx
Proserpinus gaurae is a medium-sized sphinx moth with distinctive orange and chestnut coloration. Adults are active primarily from April through August, with one or two generations per year. The species is notable for having the longest labial palps of any Proserpinus species. Larvae feed on evening primrose relatives and pupate in shallow soil burrows to overwinter.
SphingidaeMacroglossinaeMacroglossiniProserpinusproud-sphinx-mothProud-SphinxNorth-AmericaUnited-StatesMexicoevening-primroseOnagraceaeOenotheraGauraEpilobiumnocturnalspringsummerAprilMayJuneJulyAugust1797SmithSphinx-gauraemedium-sizedorangechestnutreddishwhiteblacklabial-palpssinuateforewinghindwingshallow-burrowoverwinterpupalarvaherbivorelepidopteristrearcollectprairiemeadowdisturbedopen-habitatTexasLouisianaFloridaAlabamaMissouriGeorgiaSouth-Carolinanorthern-MexicoTischeria quercitella
Oak Blotch Miner Moth
Tischeria quercitella is a leaf-mining moth in the family Tischeriidae. Its larvae create distinctive blotch mines on the leaves of oaks (Quercus) and chestnuts (Castanea). The species is documented across eastern North America, with records from Ontario south to Virginia and west to Missouri and Illinois.