Cupressaceae
Guides
Argyresthia thuiella
arborvitae leafminer, thuja mining moth, American thuja shoot moth
Argyresthia thuiella is a micro-moth in the family Argyresthiidae, commonly known as the arborvitae leafminer. Native to North America, it has been introduced to Europe multiple times since 1971. The species develops one generation annually, with larvae mining the foliage and twigs of Thuja and Chamaecyparis species. Adults are active from May to July and have a wingspan of approximately 8 mm.
Callidiellum
Callidiellum is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) in the tribe Callidiini. The genus contains at least three described species, including the well-studied Callidiellum rufipenne, an invasive Asian cedar borer established in North America. Members of this genus are wood-borers specializing on living conifers in the family Cupressaceae.
Crisicoccus taxodii
Bald Cypress Mealybug
Crisicoccus taxodii is a mealybug species in the family Pseudococcidae that feeds on bald cypress (Taxodium distichum). It is one of several mealybug species associated with conifers in this genus. The species was described by Kosztarab in 1996 and has been documented in the United States.
Cupressatia thujae
Cupressatia thujae is a species of gall midge in the family Cecidomyiidae. It is one of few described species in the genus Cupressatia. The species is known to induce galls on Thuja species, members of the cypress family (Cupressaceae). Very few observations exist, suggesting it may be rare, geographically restricted, or underreported.
Isoparce
Isoparce is a genus of sphinx moths (family Sphingidae) established by Walter Rothschild and Karl Jordan in 1903. The genus contains two recognized species: Isoparce cupressi, described from North America in 1875, and Isoparce broui, described from Southeast Asia in 2001. Both species are associated with coniferous host plants.
Phloeosinus
cedar bark beetles, cypress bark beetles
Phloeosinus is a genus of bark beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) comprising at least 20 described species. Species in this genus are specialized on conifers in the family Cupressaceae, including genera such as Cupressus, Thuja, Juniperus, and Chamaecyparis. Several species have become significant invasive pests, causing economic damage to ornamental trees and forest ecosystems. The genus exhibits specialized chemical ecology, with species using host plant volatiles and pheromones for mate and host location.
Phloeosinus punctatus
western cedar bark beetle
Phloeosinus punctatus is a bark beetle in the family Curculionidae, subfamily Scolytinae, known as the western cedar bark beetle. The species colonizes giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) and California incense-cedar (Calocedrus decurrens) in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. Females initiate gallery construction and mate monogamously. The beetle undergoes four larval instars, typically producing one generation per year under natural conditions. It has been observed to contribute to branch mortality in giant sequoia, particularly when trees are under environmental stress.
Trachykele hartmani
Serpentine Cypress Wood-boring Beetle
Trachykele hartmani is a small jewel beetle (family Buprestidae) described by Burke in 1920. It is one of approximately 50 species in the genus Trachykele, a group of wood-boring beetles primarily associated with coniferous hosts. The species is known from the Nearctic region of North America. Like other members of the subtribe Trachykelina, it likely develops in the wood of cypress or related Cupressaceae, though specific host records for this species are not well documented. The common name "Serpentine Cypress Wood-boring Beetle" suggests an association with cypress species.
Walshomyia
Walshomyia is a genus of gall midges (family Cecidomyiidae) established by Felt in 1908. The genus comprises four described species, all of which induce galls on coniferous host plants. Members of this genus are associated with Cupressaceae, including junipers and cypresses. The genus is well-represented in citizen science observations, with over 3,000 records documented.