Maple-specialist
Guides
Boisea
Boxelder Bugs
Boisea is a small genus of soapberry bugs (family Rhopalidae) with a highly disjunct distribution across North America, India, and Africa. The genus contains at least three recognized species, including the well-known North American boxelder bugs: the eastern Boisea trivittata and western Boisea rubrolineata, plus the African Boisea fulcrata. The patchy, vicariant distribution pattern is considered relictual, suggesting a formerly more extensive continuous range. Members are seed-feeding specialists primarily associated with maple family trees.
Caloptilia umbratella
Caloptilia umbratella is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae, known from eastern North America. The larvae are leaf miners on maple species, specifically Acer rubrum and Acer saccharum. There are probably two generations per year. The species is attracted to ultraviolet light, a trait common among nocturnal moths in this family.
Cameraria saccharella
Sugar Maple Blotchminer
Cameraria saccharella is a microlepidopteran in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the Sugar Maple Blotchminer. The species has a wingspan of 5–7 mm and is restricted to eastern North America. Its larvae are specialized leaf miners that feed exclusively on Acer species, particularly sugar maple and related maples.
Episimus tyrius
Maple Tip Borer Moth, Maple Leaftier Moth
Episimus tyrius, commonly known as the Maple Tip Borer Moth or Maple Leaftier Moth, is a tortricid moth species described by Heinrich in 1923. The species is primarily associated with maple trees, with larvae that bore into leaf tips or tie leaves together. It occurs in the eastern United States, where it has been documented from New York south to Florida and west to Texas. The species is relatively well-documented, with over 500 observations recorded.
Periphyllus lyropictus
Norway Maple Aphid
Periphyllus lyropictus is a specialist aphid species feeding exclusively on Norway maple (Acer platanoides). It possesses a distinctive di-symbiotic bacterial system involving Buchnera aphidicola and Serratia symbiotica as co-obligate nutritional endosymbionts. The S. symbiotica strain in this species exhibits a highly invasive phenotype with bacterial motility due to complete flagellum expression, contrasting with the strictly compartmentalized symbiont arrangement found in related aphid species. The two symbionts metabolically complement each other for biosynthesis of essential amino acids and B vitamins.
Symmerista leucitys
orange-humped mapleworm moth, orange-humped mapleworm
Symmerista leucitys is a notodontid moth commonly known as the orange-humped mapleworm moth. The species is a univoltine specialist defoliator of sugar maple, with a single generation per year. Larvae exhibit distinctive leaf-clipping behavior, severing petioles after feeding and applying red saliva containing pigments from the anterior labial glands to the petiole stub. This saliva travels rapidly into the petiole xylem and is hypothesized to suppress plant defense responses in nearby leaves. During outbreak years, clipped leaves can comprise over 80% of greenfall losses in early October.