Leafy-spurge
Guides
Aphthona
Spurge Flea Beetles
Aphthona is a genus of flea beetles in the leaf beetle family Chrysomelidae, native to Europe and Asia with approximately 135 species in the Palaearctic region and some 300 species worldwide. Members possess enlarged hind legs adapted for jumping, a characteristic trait of the tribe Alticini. The genus has gained significant attention for biological control applications, with several species introduced to North America to manage leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula), a major invasive weed. Six species—A. abdominalis, A. cyparissiae, A. czwalinae, A. flava, A. nigriscutis, and A. lacertosa—have been used for this purpose, though establishment success varies. Some African species have been identified as pests of Jatropha curcas in biodiesel plantations.
Aphthona czwalinai
Aphthona czwalinai is a flea beetle species in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Alticinae. It belongs to a genus containing species used for biological control of leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula). The species is native to Eurasia and has been introduced to North America as part of classical biological control programs. Like other Aphthona species, it is a root-feeding specialist on Euphorbia plants.
Aphthona flava
Copper Leafy Spurge Flea Beetle
Aphthona flava is a flea beetle native to Eurasia, introduced to North America as a biological control agent for leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula). Adults are small, brown, and morphologically cryptic, closely resembling congeners A. cyparissiae and A. nigriscutis. The species has established populations in Manitoba, Canada, where it remains dominant at some release sites, though it is relatively scarce in North Dakota and Minnesota. Native populations occur across Hungary and Italy.
Aphthona lacertosa
Brown-legged Leafy Spurge Flea Beetle
Aphthona lacertosa is a root-feeding flea beetle native to Eurasia, introduced to North America as a biological control agent for leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula). It was first released in 1990 and more widely in 1997, specifically targeting wet habitats where herbicide use is restricted. The species has established populations in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Adults are black and morphologically indistinguishable from A. czwalinae in field settings; larvae are the primary damaging stage.
Aphthona nigriscutis
Black Dot Leafy Spurge Flea Beetle
Aphthona nigriscutis is a root-feeding flea beetle introduced to North America as a classical biological control agent for leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula). Native to Europe, it has established populations across the northern Great Plains and Rocky Mountain regions of the United States and Canada. It is considered one of the most effective biocontrol agents for this invasive plant, with larvae causing the majority of damage through root feeding.
Chamaesphecia
Chamaesphecia is a genus of clearwing moths (Sesiidae) established by Spuler in 1910, containing over 80 species distributed primarily across the Palearctic region. Species are characterized by their wasp-mimicking appearance and specialized larval associations with host plants, particularly in the families Euphorbiaceae and Lamiaceae. Several species have been investigated for biological control of invasive weeds, including leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) and horehound (Marrubium vulgare). The genus is divided into two subgenera: Chamaesphecia and Scopulosphecia.
Oberea erythrocephala
Leafy Spurge Stem Boring Beetle, Red-headed Leafy Spurge Stem Borer
Oberea erythrocephala is a slender, elongate longhorn beetle introduced to North America as a biological control agent for leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula). Adults have distinctive red heads, black eyes, and grayish-black hind wings. The species is univoltine and oligophagous, feeding and developing only on certain Euphorbia species in the subgenus Esula. It was approved for release in the United States in 1980 and has since established populations across at least fifteen states and several Canadian provinces. The beetle is considered secondary to Aphthona flea beetles in leafy spurge management due to its narrower host range.
Sparganothis umbrana
Birdsfoot Trefoil Leaftier
Sparganothis umbrana is a small tortricid moth described by Barnes and Busck in 1920. It is known from a broad range of North American localities spanning Canada and the United States. The species has been recorded feeding on Euphorbia esula as a larva. Its common name, Birdsfoot Trefoil Leaftier, suggests an association with Lotus corniculatus, though this host relationship requires verification.