Legume-feeder
Guides
Piezodorus
Piezodorus is a genus of shield bugs in the family Pentatomidae, distributed across multiple continents. The genus includes several economically significant agricultural pests, particularly Piezodorus guildinii (redbanded stink bug), which causes substantial damage to soybean and other legume crops in the Americas. Species in this genus exhibit typical pentatomid morphology with shield-shaped bodies and are associated primarily with leguminous host plants.
Piezodorus lituratus
gorse shield bug
Piezodorus lituratus, commonly known as the gorse shield bug, is a shield bug species in the family Pentatomidae. Adults reach 10–13 mm in length and exhibit seasonal color polymorphism: bright green in spring after emergence from hibernation, developing purplish-red markings on the pronotum and corium in late summer, and becoming paler before hibernation. The species is associated with leguminous host plants, particularly broom and dyer's greenweed, and is found across Europe, Africa, Northern Asia, and North America.
Pima albiplagiatella
White-edged Pima Moth, Beach Pea Borer
A small snout moth with a wingspan of approximately 20 mm, described by Alpheus Spring Packard in 1874. The species has one generation per year. Larvae are specialized feeders on Astragalus and Lathyrus species (legumes), with documented hosts including Astragalus allochrous, A. thurberi, A. wootonii, and unspecified Lathyrus species.
Pima boisduvaliella
Silver-edged Knot-horn
Pima boisduvaliella is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, commonly known as the Silver-edged Knot-horn. It has a broad distribution spanning most of Europe, parts of Asia, and northern North America. The species is notable for its larval feeding behavior inside the pods of leguminous host plants.
Pima granitella
snout moth
Pima granitella is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 29 mm. The species has one to two generations per year in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. Larvae develop within legumes of host plants, feeding on seeds.
Pima occidentalis
snout moth
Pima occidentalis is a species of snout moth (family Pyralidae) native to the southwestern United States. The species was formerly treated as a subspecies of Pima albiplagiatella but is now recognized as distinct. Larvae are specialized feeders on Astragalus and Lathyrus species. Populations in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona produce two generations annually.
Plebejus icarioides parapheres
Plebejus icarioides parapheres is a subspecies of the Boisduval's blue butterfly complex, originally described from California. It is currently treated as a synonym of Icaricia icarioides parapheres in some taxonomic databases. The species group is associated with leguminous host plants and has been subject to conservation research due to habitat loss pressures affecting related subspecies.
Plebejus saepiolus
Greenish Blue, Icaricia saepiolus
Plebejus saepiolus, commonly known as the Greenish Blue, is a small lycaenid butterfly native to North America. It is closely related to other Plebejus species such as P. acmon (Acmon Blue) and P. melissa (Melissa Blue), with which it shares similar habitat preferences and morphological features. The species has been documented across western and northern regions of North America including Canada and the northern United States. Like other members of its genus, it exhibits the characteristic blue coloration on the upper wing surfaces of males.
Proteides mercurius mercurius
Mercurial Skipper
Proteides mercurius mercurius is a subspecies of skipper butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is part of the widespread Mercurial Skipper complex, which occurs across the Americas from the southern United States through the Caribbean and into South America. The nominate subspecies is distinguished by its distribution and subtle morphological differences from other subspecies. It is a medium-sized skipper with rapid, darting flight characteristic of the family.
Pyrisitia proterpia
little yellow
Pyrisitia proterpia, commonly known as the little yellow, is a small butterfly in the family Pieridae. It occurs across the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, and parts of South America including Colombia. The species is associated with open habitats and has been documented in botanical gardens and natural areas.
Schinia jaguarina
Jaguar Flower Moth
Schinia jaguarina, commonly known as the Jaguar Flower Moth, is a noctuid moth species first described by Achille Guenée in 1852. The species is distributed across the Great Plains and adjacent regions of North America, with records from Canada south through Mexico. Adults are active primarily during summer months and are attracted to light. The larvae are specialized feeders on leguminous plants.
Sennius
seed beetles, pea and bean weevils
Sennius is a New World genus of seed beetles (subfamily Bruchinae) within Chrysomelidae, containing at least 20 described species. Species are organized into multiple species groups, with the S. abbreviatus group being the largest and most thoroughly studied, comprising 14 species. The genus is characterized by distinctive male genitalia morphology, particularly patterns of sclerites and internal sac structure. Several species have been described from Mexico, Central America, and South America, with ongoing taxonomic revisions revealing new species and clarifying host plant relationships.
Sennius medialis
Sennius medialis is a species of seed beetle in the subfamily Bruchinae, first described by Sharp in 1885. Members of this genus are associated with leguminous host plants, though specific host records for this species remain limited. The species is known from both Middle and North America based on collection records.
Sibinia inermis
huisache sibinia weevil
Sibinia inermis, known as the huisache sibinia weevil, is a species of leguminous seed weevil in the beetle family Curculionidae. The species was described by Clark in 1978. It is found in North America, with limited observational records available.
Sibinia ruidula
Sibinia ruidula is a species of leguminous seed weevil in the family Curculionidae, described by Clark in 1978. It belongs to the tribe Tychiini, a group of weevils specialized on legume seeds. The species is known from North America. Very few observations exist in public databases.
Sibinia variegata
leguminous seed weevil
Sibinia variegata is a species of leguminous seed weevil in the beetle family Curculionidae, described by Clark in 1978. It is found in North America and belongs to a genus associated with feeding on legume seeds.
Sinoe robiniella
Sinoe robiniella is a small gelechiid moth native to eastern North America. Adults are active from spring through late summer, with timing varying by latitude. The species is specialized on leguminous host plants, with larvae feeding on black locust and related species. It was originally described as Anacampsis robiniella by Asa Fitch in 1859.
Syssphinx bicolor
honey locust moth
Syssphinx bicolor, commonly known as the honey locust moth, is a North American saturniid moth with variable wing coloration ranging from grayish to yellow, orange, or dark reddish brown. The species exhibits three annual broods with adults of different color morphs appearing sequentially—grayish first, then yellow to orange-brown, and finally darker with more spotting. Larvae feed on honey locust and Kentucky coffee tree, with distinctive color changes between gregarious young stages and solitary older instars.
Syssphinx hubbardi
Hubbard's Silk Moth, Hubbard's Silkmoth
Syssphinx hubbardi is a medium-sized giant silk moth in the family Saturniidae, with a wingspan of 56–76 mm. Adults are predominantly gray with bright pink hindwings that are exposed when the moth is startled. The species occurs in the southwestern United States and Mexico, with one generation per year in most of its range, though Texas populations may produce multiple generations. Adults are active from June through September, with peak activity in July and August.
Syssphinx montana
Montana Silkmoth
Syssphinx montana is a silkmoth in the family Saturniidae. Adults have a wingspan of 62–82 mm, with males smaller than females. The species is found in Mexico and rarely in southeastern Arizona. Adults are active from mid-July to early August and do not feed. Larvae feed on several leguminous host plants.
Syssphinx raspa
Raspa Small Silkmoth
Syssphinx raspa is a small silkmoth in the family Saturniidae, native to North and Middle America. It is closely related to Hubbard's Silkmoth (Syssphinx hubbardi), with which it shares similar biology and appearance. The species has a wingspan of approximately 56-76 mm. Adults are primarily gray with bright pink hindwings that are exposed when startled. Like other Syssphinx species, the caterpillars feed on leguminous host plants and pupate underground.
Tathorhynchus
Tathorhynchus is a monotypic moth genus in the family Erebidae, established by George Hampson in 1894. It contains a single species, Tathorhynchus exsiccata (the Levant blackneck or double-spotted snout), described by Julius Lederer in 1855. The genus has undergone taxonomic revision, having been briefly transferred to Lygephila in 2003 before being restored to Tathorhynchus in 2005. The species exhibits two recognized subspecies with distinct geographic distributions.
Tathorhynchus exsiccata
Levant blackneck, Alfalfa Looper Moth
Tathorhynchus exsiccata is a moth species in the family Erebidae, known as the Levant blackneck. The nominate form occurs across the Canary Islands, North Africa, Tropical Asia, and Tropical Africa. It has been introduced to Dominica and Argentina. A distinct subspecies, T. e. fallax, occupies the northern half of Australia, Norfolk Island, and New Zealand.
Thorybes pylades
northern cloudywing
Thorybes pylades, commonly known as the northern cloudywing, is a skipper butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is recognized by its uniformly dark brown wings with small triangular clear spots. The species has a broad distribution across North America, with adults flying in spring and summer. Larvae feed on various legumes in the family Fabaceae.
Tychius lineellus
leguminous seed weevil
Tychius lineellus is a leguminous seed weevil in the family Curculionidae. It belongs to a group of North American Tychius species thought to have dispersed from Eurasia via Beringia. The species is probably related to T. sordidus and T. caesius, which are considered remnants of an old Holarctic fauna associated with the Arcto-Tertiary flora.
Tychius semisquamosus
Tychius semisquamosus is a species of leguminous seed weevil in the family Curculionidae, described by Faust in 1893. It belongs to the semisquamosus group of North American Tychius species, which are associated with host plants in the genus Astragalus and Lotus. The species has been subject to taxonomic revision, with several previously described species (T. lamellosus, T. squamosus, T. intermixtus) now synonymized under this name. It represents part of a North American fauna derived from multiple independent dispersals from Eurasia.
Uresiphita
Uresiphita is a genus of crambid moths comprising approximately six recognized species distributed across North America, New Zealand, Europe, and the Middle East. The genus is notable for larval sequestration of quinolizidine alkaloids from leguminous host plants, a chemical defense mechanism against predators. Several species have expanded their ranges through association with introduced host plants.
Uresiphita reversalis
Genista Broom Moth, Sophora Worm
Uresiphita reversalis is a multivoltine crambid moth native to Mexico and the southwestern United States that has expanded its range north and east across North America. The caterpillars feed diurnally in groups on leguminous host plants, particularly members of the tribe Genisteae, and sequester quinolizidine alkaloids for chemical defense. The species has gained notoriety as both a pest of ornamental plants and a potential biocontrol agent for invasive broom species. Adults are small moths with distinctive white bodies and bright yellow or orange hindwings.
Walshia floridensis
Walshia floridensis is a small moth in the family Cosmopterigidae, described by Ronald W. Hodges in 1978. It is endemic to Florida, with adults active during the winter months. The species is notable for its specific association with the legume Petalostemon pinnatum as a larval host plant.
Walshia miscecolorella
Sweet Clover Root Borer Moth, sweetclover root borer moth
Walshia miscecolorella is a small moth in the family Cosmopterigidae, commonly known as the sweet clover root borer moth. It was described by V.T. Chambers in 1875. The species is notable for its broad North American distribution and year-round adult activity. Larvae feed on roots and lower stems of various leguminous plants and other species.
Xenochalepus ater
Xenochalepus ater is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in Central America and North America, with records from the United States (Arizona, Texas) and Mexico (Guerrero, Jalisco, Morelos). The species has been recorded feeding on cultivated legumes including soybean (Glycine max) and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). Adults have also been collected on Robinia species, Rhamnus betulifolia, and Platanus wrightii.
Zabrotes victoriensis
Zabrotes victoriensis is a species of seed beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Bruchinae, described by Kingsolver in 1990. The genus Zabrotes comprises seed beetles specialized on legume hosts, though species-specific biological data for Z. victoriensis remain limited. It is known from North America. The species epithet suggests a connection to Victoria, possibly referring to a type locality.