Grapevine-pest
Guides
Antispila
shield-bearer moths
Antispila is a genus of leaf-mining moths in the family Heliozelidae, established by Jacob Hübner in 1825. The genus comprises approximately 50 described species distributed across North America, Europe, and Asia. Larvae feed internally on leaves of host plants, creating distinctive serpentine or blotch mines that terminate in oval cutouts ('shields') used for pupation. Several species are economically significant as pests of grapevines, dogwoods, and ornamental shrubs. Taxonomic revisions using DNA barcoding have resolved longstanding species complexes, particularly among Cornus-feeding species in Europe.
Erasmoneura
Erasmoneura is a genus of leafhoppers in the family Cicadellidae containing approximately 14 described species, most of which are native to North America. The genus includes E. vulnerata, a significant grapevine pest that has become invasive in Europe. Erasmoneura species are associated with Vitaceae host plants, with documented feeding on grapevines (Vitis spp.) and Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus spp.). The genus is characterized by small size, typical of the Typhlocybinae subfamily, and members use vibrational communication for mating.
Scaphoideus
Scaphoideus is a genus of leafhoppers in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Deltocephalinae. The genus is best known for Scaphoideus titanus, the American grapevine leafhopper, which is the primary vector of Flavescence dorée phytoplasma, a serious disease of grapevines in European vineyards. Members of this genus are small, plant-feeding insects with piercing-sucking mouthparts. The genus has a Nearctic origin, with S. titanus introduced to Europe approximately 150 years ago, likely via American rootstock material.