Flower-feeder
Guides
Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria
Blackberry Looper, Blackberry Looper Moth, Raspberry Looper
A small emerald geometrid moth widespread across eastern and central North America. Adults are active from spring through fall with multiple generations. Larvae feed on blackberry and raspberry fruits as well as flower heads of numerous Asteraceae species. The species has been documented on prairie dock (Silphium terebinthinaceum) and recently recorded on Eriogonum alatum (Polygonaceae), representing a host range extension beyond its previously known associations.
Closterotomus norvegicus
potato capsid
Closterotomus norvegicus, commonly known as the potato capsid, is a small plant-feeding bug in the family Miridae. It measures 6–8 mm in length and undergoes a distinctive color change from green in nymphs to reddish-brown in adults. The species feeds primarily on flowers, buds, and unripe fruit of various plants including potato, carrot, clover, nettle, and cannabis. Native to the Palearctic region, it has been introduced to North America as an adventive species.
Curculioninae
flower weevils, acorn and nut weevils
Curculioninae is the largest subfamily of weevils (Curculionidae), containing over 23,500 described species in approximately 2,200 genera. It represents one of the most successful radiations of terrestrial animals. The subfamily is divided into around 30 tribes, with members commonly known as flower weevils or acorn and nut weevils based on larval and adult feeding on plant reproductive structures.
Depressaria alienella
Yarrow Webworm
Depressaria alienella is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, described by August Busck in 1904. It occurs across northern and western North America, from Yukon to Nova Scotia and south to Arizona and California. The larvae feed on flowers of Artemisia and Achillea species. Adults are active from July through September.
Diaphania elegans
Diaphania elegans is a crambid moth described by Heinrich Benno Möschler in 1890. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in forewing length, with males measuring 11–14 mm and females 12.5–15 mm. It has a broad distribution spanning the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, southern Texas, and much of South America. Larvae have been documented feeding on flowers of Cucurbita maxima.
Lytta aenea
Brassy Blister Beetle
Lytta aenea is a blister beetle (family Meloidae) native to eastern North America, ranging from Texas to New England and westward to the Great Plains. The common name 'Brassy Blister Beetle' refers to its distinctive bronze-colored elytra. It is a flower-feeding species with documented associations to several plant families.
Lytta vulnerata
Lytta vulnerata is a blister beetle in the family Meloidae, characterized by bold black and orange aposematic coloration. The species is found in western North America, with subspecies L. v. cooperi occurring in more northerly regions including Idaho. Like other meloids, it produces cantharidin, a defensive compound that causes skin blistering upon contact. Adults have been observed feeding on flowers, particularly rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus spp.).
Ministrymon azia
Gray Ministreak
Ministrymon azia, commonly known as the gray ministreak, is a small butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It ranges from the southern United States through Central America to southern Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. The species occupies diverse lowland habitats including deserts and rainforests. Adults are active year-round in tropical regions and from March to September in Florida and Texas.
Ophiomyia lantanae
Lantana Seed Fly
Ophiomyia lantanae is a small fly in the family Agromyzidae, native to the Americas from the southern United States to Brazil. It was introduced to Australia in 1914 as a biological control agent for the invasive weed Lantana camara. The species has since established populations in multiple countries across several continents. It is commonly known as the Lantana Seed Fly due to its association with its host plant.
Sparganothis senecionana
Sparganothis senecionana is a tortricid moth species distributed across western North America from British Columbia to Mexico and eastward to Colorado. Adults are active from April to August with one generation per year. The species exhibits broad polyphagy, with larvae feeding on flowers of diverse host plants spanning multiple families including Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, and conifers.
Sphenarches anisodactylus
geranium plume moth, fire-flag plume moth
Sphenarches anisodactylus is a small plume moth in the family Pterophoridae with a wingspan of approximately 10 mm. It has a remarkably broad distribution spanning tropical and subtropical regions across multiple continents. The species is known to feed on flower buds and flowers of diverse plant families, with larvae recorded from over a dozen host plants including ornamental, agricultural, and wild species. Its common names reflect association with geraniums (Pelargonium) and fire-flag (Thalia geniculata).
Synchlora aerata-frondaria
Wavy-lined Emerald, Camouflaged looper
Synchlora aerata-frondaria is a species of emerald moth in the family Geometridae. The caterpillars are remarkable for their unique camouflage behavior: they adorn their bodies with pieces of the plants upon which they feed, including flower petals, spent anthers, and other plant fragments. This behavior makes them extremely difficult to detect when resting on vegetation. The adult moth is known as the wavy-lined emerald, characterized by its green coloration. The species is widespread in the eastern United States, with particularly notable populations in the southeastern region.
Synchlora graefiaria
Synchlora graefiaria is a species of emerald moth in the family Geometridae, first described by Hulst in 1886. Like other members of the genus Synchlora, its caterpillars are known for their remarkable camouflage behavior, adorning their bodies with bits of plant material from their host plants to blend into their surroundings. The species is found in North America, though specific details about its range and biology remain limited in available literature.
Zonitis interpretis
Zonitis interpretis is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae, described by Enns in 1956. It belongs to the subfamily Nemognathinae, which is characterized by elongated adult mouthparts adapted for nectar feeding on flowers. The species is known to occur in North America. Like other members of its genus, adults likely visit flowers for feeding, while larvae are probably parasitoids of grasshopper egg pods, following the typical life history pattern for Nemognathinae.