Oak
Guides
Acleris semiannula
Half-ringed Acleris Moth
Acleris semiannula is a small tortricid moth found across eastern and central North America. Adults are active year-round and have a wingspan of 12–15 mm. Larvae develop on three documented host plants: red maple, silver maple, and white oak. The species was originally described as Teras semiannula by Robinson in 1869.
Acronicta ovata
ovate dagger moth, Epauleted Oak Dagger
Acronicta ovata is a noctuid moth with a wingspan of 28–35 mm. Adults are active from June to September, with two or more generations per year across its broad North American range. The species is known for its larval association with hardwood trees, particularly oaks.
Andricus
oak gall wasps
Andricus is a large and diverse genus of gall wasps in the family Cynipidae, comprising approximately 375 species—though many are considered taxonomically dubious. These tiny wasps are obligate gall inducers on oaks (Quercus spp.), with each species typically restricted to one or a few closely related host species. The genus exhibits complex life cycles involving alternation between sexual and asexual generations, often on different oak hosts or plant organs. Andricus is the most diverse genus in the tribe Cynipini and has a cosmopolitan distribution centered on the Northern Hemisphere, with species in Europe, Asia, North America, and Central America.
Apoda biguttata
Shagreened Slug Moth
Apoda biguttata, commonly known as the shagreened slug moth, is a species of slug moth in the family Limacodidae. It is found in eastern North America. The adult has a wingspan of 19–30 mm and is active from April to August. The larvae feed on various deciduous trees including hornbeam, hickory, and oak.
Argyrotaenia quercifoliana
Yellow-winged Oak Leafroller Moth
Argyrotaenia quercifoliana, the yellow-winged oak leafroller moth, is a small tortricid moth found in eastern North America. Adults fly from May to July and are attracted to light. The species is associated with oak and witch-hazel, with larvae feeding on leaves of these host plants. It is one of numerous leafroller moths in the genus Argyrotaenia, many of which are economically significant orchard pests.
Atrusca trimaculosa
Woollybear Gall Wasp
Atrusca trimaculosa, commonly known as the woollybear gall wasp, is a cynipid gall wasp that induces distinctive round, hairy galls on oak leaves. The galls are 3–4 mm wide, covered in stiff hairs, and typically clustered on leaf surfaces. Only females of this species are known, suggesting reproduction may occur through parthenogenesis. The species is associated with several oak species including valley oak, blue oak, and Oregon oak.
Brachys aerosus
Northern Red Oak Jewel Beetle
Brachys aerosus is a small metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, tribe Trachyini. Adults measure 3–5 mm in length and exhibit highly variable coloration, with the basal region of the elytra typically showing purple, blue, or green luster and the apical area covered in gold to bronze pubescence. The species is commonly associated with hardwood trees, particularly oaks and elms, though its broad host range and morphological variability suggest it may represent a cryptic species complex. Larvae are leaf miners rather than wood borers, a distinctive trait of the tribe Trachyini.
Caliroa lorata
Caliroa lorata is a species of sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae. The genus Caliroa contains species commonly known as oak-skeletonizers due to their distinctive larval feeding behavior on oak leaves. Larvae feed on the undersides of leaves, consuming tissue between the veins while leaving the upper epidermis and veins intact, creating a skeletonized appearance. The species is part of a group of sawflies that exhibit host plant specialization, primarily associated with oaks (Quercus species).
Caliroa quercuscoccinae
Oak-skeletonizing sawfly
Caliroa quercuscoccinae is a sawfly species in the family Tenthredinidae. The larvae are known for skeletonizing oak leaves, feeding on the tissue between the leaf veins while leaving the veins intact. This feeding pattern creates a distinctive lace-like appearance on damaged foliage. The species is part of a genus whose larvae are commonly referred to as slug sawflies due to their slimy, slug-like appearance and locomotion.
Callirhytis congregata
sausage flower gall wasp
Callirhytis congregata is a cynipid gall wasp native to California that induces distinctive galls on the catkins of three oak species: coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), interior live oak (Quercus wislizeni), and canyon live oak (Quercus chrysolepis). The species was originally described by William Harris Ashmead in 1896 under the genus Andricus. It is considered locally common within its range. The galls are described as rugose, yellowish-brown woody swellings with multiple cells, appearing to grow from the tips of slender twigs with a long peduncle-like base.
Callirhytis seminosa
Callirhytis seminosa is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae. Like other members of its genus, this species induces galls on oak hosts (Quercus spp.). The genus Callirhytis is known for forming distinct galls on oaks, with different species typically associated with specific oak species or gall morphologies. The specific epithet "seminosa" suggests a possible association with seed or acorn-related structures, though this remains speculative without direct observation.
Cameraria australisella
A leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, known from Illinois and Texas. The larvae create mines in leaves of white oak and shingle oak.
Cameraria conglomeratella
Conglomerate Oak Leafminer Moth
A small moth in the family Gracillariidae with a wingspan of 7.5–9 mm. The larvae are leaf miners on Quercus species. Recorded from ten U.S. states.
Cameraria quercivorella
Rusty Oak Leafminer
A small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, known from eastern North America. Adults are tiny with a wingspan of 6.5–7 mm. Larvae create distinctive blotch mines on the upper surface of oak leaves.
Cameraria ulmella
Elm Leafminer
A minute leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, measuring 6.5–7 mm in wingspan. The species produces distinctive flat mines on the upper leaf surfaces of oak and elm trees. It exhibits bivoltine development with distinct seasonal broods that differ in overwintering strategy.
Catocala dejecta
Dejected Underwing
Catocala dejecta, the Dejected Underwing, is a moth in the family Erebidae. It is found in eastern and central North America, from Massachusetts and Connecticut south to Florida, west to Texas and Oklahoma, and north to southern Ontario. Adults have a wingspan of 56–73 mm and are active from June to October, with timing varying by location. The larvae feed on hickories (Carya glabra, Carya ovata) and oaks (Quercus species).
Clastoptera querci
Clastoptera querci is a species of spittlebug in the family Clastopteridae, described in 2020. The specific epithet "querci" indicates an association with oak (Quercus), suggesting a host relationship with oak trees. As a member of the spittlebug superfamily Cercopoidea, this species shares the characteristic nymphal habit of producing protective foam masses on host plants. The genus Clastoptera is the primary genus within its family and is distributed across North America.
Coptotriche citrinipennella
A small leaf-mining moth in the family Tischeriidae, first described from North America in 1859. The species is notable for its broad host range across both chestnut (Castanea) and oak (Quercus) genera. Larvae create distinctive mines in leaves of their host plants. It occurs across eastern North America from Canada to the southern United States.
Coptotriche purinosella
Coptotriche purinosella is a small moth in the family Tischeriidae, described in 1875. Its larvae are leaf miners that feed on several oak species (Quercus). The species is known from scattered localities in the eastern and central United States.
Corythucha arcuata
oak lace bug
Corythucha arcuata, the oak lace bug, is a small sap-sucking insect in the family Tingidae native to North America. First detected in Europe in 2000, it has become a major invasive pest across more than 20 EU countries, causing significant damage to oak forests. The species overwinters as adults and produces multiple overlapping generations per year, with development rates and generation number determined by thermal accumulation. In its invaded range, it lacks effective natural enemies, prompting investigation of classical biological control using the egg parasitoid Erythmelus klopomor from its native range.
Curculio
acorn weevils, nut weevils
Curculio is a genus of weevils in the family Curculionidae, commonly known as acorn weevils or nut weevils. Females use their elongated rostrum to bore holes in developing nuts of oak, hickory, and other trees to deposit eggs. Larvae develop inside the seeds, feeding on the nutritious kernel, then emerge in autumn to pupate in soil. The genus has been extensively studied due to its economic impact on nut production and its remarkable morphological adaptations for seed predation.
Cynips
oak gall wasps
Cynips is a genus of gall wasps comprising approximately 39 species, all associated with oak trees (Quercus spp.). The genus includes the well-known common oak gall wasp (C. quercusfolii), which induces spherical galls on oak leaf undersides. Species in this genus exhibit heterogony, alternating between sexual and asexual generations that typically produce morphologically distinct galls. The genus was established by Linnaeus in 1758 and remains taxonomically stable, though some former members (such as Antron) have been reinstated as separate genera.
Cyrtepistomus castaneus
Asiatic oak weevil, Asian oak weevil
Cyrtepistomus castaneus, commonly known as the Asiatic oak weevil, is an invasive broad-nosed weevil native to Asia that was first detected in North America in 1933. Adults are folivores that feed on oak (Quercus) and red maple (Acer rubrum) leaves, while larvae develop in soil feeding on root hairs. The species has established widespread populations across eastern and central North America.
Dasychira vagans
Variable Tussock Moth
Dasychira vagans is a moth in the family Erebidae, first described by Barnes and McDunnough in 1913. The species exhibits notable sexual dimorphism in forewing length, with males measuring 14–18 mm and females 22–24 mm. Adults are active from June to August with a single generation per year. The larvae feed on a broad range of woody plants across multiple families, with a documented preference for Quercus (oak) species. Two subspecies are recognized: D. v. vagans in eastern North America and D. v. grisea ranging from southern Manitoba to the Pacific Northwest.
Disholcaspis quercusglobulus
Round Bullet Gall Wasp
Disholcaspis quercusglobulus, commonly known as the round bullet gall wasp, is a species of cynipid gall wasp that forms distinctive round, detachable galls on oak twigs. Unlike many gall wasps that affect leaves, this species targets twigs of white oak and related species. The species exhibits an unusual reproductive strategy: all galls produce only female wasps, which emerge in fall and immediately lay eggs in twigs to produce the next generation without males. This parthenogenetic life cycle has been documented across multiple Disholcaspis species.
Heterocampa
prominent moths
Heterocampa is a genus of prominent moths in the family Notodontidae containing approximately 18 described species. Species occur in North, Central, and South America. The genus has undergone taxonomic revision; research published in 2021 resulted in some species being transferred to the genera Cecrita, Macrurocampa, and Rifargia. Several species are forest defoliators, with Heterocampa guttivitta (saddled prominent) and H. manteo (variable oakleaf caterpillar) being among the better studied due to their economic and ecological significance.
Homoeolabus analis
Leaf-rolling weevil, Oak leaf rolling weevil
Homoeolabus analis is a leaf-rolling weevil in the family Attelabidae, native to North America. The species is notable for its distinctive reproductive behavior: females cut and roll oak leaves into protective structures called nidi (singular: nidus) to shelter their eggs. This behavior, termed "nidification," is subject to kleptoparasitism by the thief weevil Pterocolus ovatus, which steals eggs from these leaf rolls. Despite their conspicuous leaf damage, populations generally cause minimal impact to host plant health.
Japanagromyza viridula
Oak Shothole Leafminer
Japanagromyza viridula is a leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae, commonly known as the oak shothole leafminer. The species is native to North America and has been recorded from Canada and the United States. As a leaf miner, its larvae feed internally within oak leaves, creating distinctive feeding patterns. The species was originally described as Agromyza viridula by Coquillett in 1902 and later transferred to the genus Japanagromyza.
Knulliana
banded hickory borer
Knulliana is a monotypic genus of longhorn beetles (family Cerambycidae) containing the single species Knulliana cincta, commonly known as the banded hickory borer. The genus was established by Linsley in 1962 and is classified within the tribe Bothriospilini. The sole species ranges across the eastern half of North America from Canada to the Bahamas and Mexico, with one subspecies extending into the Sonoran Desert. Adults are associated with hickory and oak trees, where larvae develop as wood-borers.
Lambdina fervidaria
curve-lined looper, spring hemlock looper, curved-lined looper moth
Lambdina fervidaria is a geometrid moth found in eastern North America. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 27 mm and are active from May to August. The species has two recognized subspecies with slightly different host plant preferences. Larvae feed on hardwood trees including oaks and ashes, while the subspecies L. f. athasaria specializes on conifers such as balsam fir, spruce, and eastern hemlock.
Lochmaeus manteo
Variable Oakleaf Caterpillar Moth
Lochmaeus manteo is a moth in the family Notodontidae, commonly known as the variable oakleaf caterpillar moth. It occurs in eastern North America, where adults are active from April through October. The species is a late-season defoliator of deciduous trees, with larvae feeding primarily on Quercus (oak) species. While larval feeding can cause noticeable canopy damage and produce abundant frass, single defoliation events rarely cause significant long-term harm to tree health.
Molytinae
Molytinae is a large and diverse subfamily of weevils (Curculionidae) described by Carl Johan Schönherr in 1823. The subfamily contains numerous tribes and genera distributed worldwide, with particularly high diversity in tropical and subtropical regions. Many Molytinae species are associated with specific host plants, including conifers, oaks, and various flowering plants. Some species are economically important as pests of forestry and agricultural crops, while others are restricted to specialized habitats such as leaf litter, caves, or high-elevation ecosystems. The subfamily has undergone significant taxonomic revision in recent decades, with many new species described particularly from Central America, Africa, and Asia.
Myzocallis discolor
Eastern dusky-winged oak aphid
Myzocallis discolor is an aphid species in the family Aphididae, commonly known as the eastern dusky-winged oak aphid. The species has undergone taxonomic revision, with some sources placing it in the genus Neomyzocallis. It is associated with oak hosts (Quercus species). The species was first described by Monell in 1879 under the basionym Callipterus discolor.
Myzocallis meridionalis
Hamburger oak aphid
Myzocallis meridionalis is a species of aphid in the family Aphididae, first described by Granovsky in 1939. The species has been reclassified under the genus Lineomyzocallis in some taxonomic treatments, though it remains listed under Myzocallis in other sources. Commonly known as the Hamburger oak aphid, it is associated with oak trees (Quercus species). The species has been documented through 33 research-grade observations on iNaturalist as of the available data.
Myzocallis tuberculata
Tuberculate oak aphid
Myzocallis tuberculata is a species of aphid in the family Aphididae, described by Richards in 1965. The species has been synonymized under the genus Neomyzocallis in some taxonomic treatments, reflecting ongoing revisions within the Myzocallis complex. It is known by the common name "Tuberculate oak aphid," indicating an association with oak host plants. The species belongs to the tribe Myzocallidini, a group of aphids predominantly associated with Fagaceae, particularly oaks (Quercus).
Neosymydobius
American Oak-twig Aphids
Neosymydobius is a small genus of aphids comprising six described Nearctic species. All species are exclusively associated with oak trees (Quercus spp.), feeding on twigs and branches. The genus was established by Baker in 1920 and is classified within the subfamily Calaphidinae and tribe Myzocallidini.
Neuroterus
Neuroterus is a genus of gall wasps in the family Cynipidae that induce galls on oak species. The genus was first described by Theodor Hartig in 1840. Some species, notably N. saltatorius, produce distinctive 'jumping galls' that detach from the host plant and move along the ground due to larval activity within. Like other oak gall wasps, Neuroterus species exhibit complex life cycles with alternating sexual and asexual (agamic) generations, with each generation typically inducing galls on different parts of the host plant.
Neuroterus saltarius
Jumping Gall Wasp
Neuroterus saltarius is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae, commonly known as the jumping gall wasp. It induces distinctive leaf galls on oak trees that detach from the plant and fall to the ground. The developing larva inside the fallen gall can cause the gall to jump when it moves, a unique behavioral trait that gives the species its common name. This species is part of the diverse Neuroterus genus, which contains many oak-associated gall wasps with complex life cycles.
Neuroterus saltatorius
Jumping Gall Wasp
Neuroterus saltatorius, commonly known as the jumping gall wasp, is a North American oak gall wasp in the family Cynipidae. The species is notable for producing small, round galls that detach from leaves and exhibit a distinctive jumping behavior caused by larval movements. It has a complex life cycle with alternating bisexual and parthenogenetic generations, each producing different gall types on oak hosts.
Osmoderma
Typical Hermit Beetles, Hermit Beetles
Osmoderma is a genus of scarab beetles in the subfamily Cetoniinae, commonly known as hermit beetles. The genus has a Holarctic distribution, with species found across Europe, parts of Asia, and North America. Several European species, particularly O. eremita and O. barnabita, are of significant conservation concern due to habitat loss and are protected under the EU Habitats Directive. The genus is characterized by its dependence on tree hollows for larval development, making it highly vulnerable to forest management practices that remove dead wood and veteran trees.
saproxylicconservationHabitats-Directivetree-hollowsveteran-treesindicator-speciesumbrella-specieswood-mouldCetoniinaeScarabaeidaeHolarcticEuropeNorth-Americathreatened-speciesdead-woodforest-managementcitizen-sciencedetection-dogsex-situ-breedingpollardingtraditional-agricultural-landscapesmetapopulationhabitat-fragmentationold-growth-forestbroad-leaved-treesoaklimewillowbeechorchardshedgerowsurban-parkspheromone-monitoringradio-trackingphoretic-mitesScopoli-1763Le-Peletier-&-Serville-1828O.-eremitaO.-barnabitaO.-eremicolahermit-beetlePackardia elegans
Elegant Tailed Slug Moth
Packardia elegans is a small moth species in the family Limacodidae, commonly known as the elegant tailed slug moth. It occurs in eastern North American woodlands and forests, with a range extending from Quebec and Maine south to Georgia and west to Missouri. The species has a forewing length of 10–12 mm. Larvae feed on woody plants including beech, cherry, and oak. Two subspecies are recognized: P. e. elegans and P. e. fusca.
Periclista
common sawflies
Periclista is a genus of sawflies in the family Tenthredinidae, subfamily Blennocampinae, comprising at least 20 described species. Larvae are external feeders on oak (Quercus) and hickory (Carya) foliage. The genus is distinguished by larval morphology, particularly the presence of branched dorsal spines. Adults are typical of the family, with a broad connection between thorax and abdomen lacking the constricted waist seen in other Hymenoptera.
Phyllonorycter argentifimbriella
Phyllonorycter argentifimbriella is a small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. Adults have a wingspan of 6.5–7 mm. The species is known from eastern North America, ranging from Québec south to multiple U.S. states. Larvae feed on several oak species, creating mines within leaves.
Polystepha pilulae
Oak Leaf Gall Midge
Polystepha pilulae is a gall midge in the family Cecidomyiidae, known for inducing distinctive leaf galls on oaks in the red oak group (Quercus sect. Lobatae). The species is found in eastern North America. The galls are circular, thick-walled structures formed on the upper leaf surface between veins.
Profenusa alumna
red oak leaf-mining sawfly
Profenusa alumna is a leaf-mining sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae. It is univoltine, completing one generation per year. Larvae feed as leaf miners within red oak leaves, creating blotch mines. The species is closely associated with red oak (Quercus rubra) in forested habitats. Pupation occurs in soil.
Pseudopityophthorus
oak bark beetles
A genus of bark and ambrosia beetles in the family Curculionidae, comprising more than 30 described species distributed primarily in North and Central America. Species in this genus are strongly associated with oak trees (Quercus spp.) and have been investigated as potential vectors of forest pathogens, including the oak wilt fungus Ceratocystis fagacearum and the canker-causing fungus Geosmithia pallida. Some species exhibit phoretic behavior and form associations with other organisms including mites and nematodes.
Psilocorsis
Psilocorsis is a genus of moths in the family Depressariidae, first described by Clemens in 1860. Species within this genus are known as leaf-tiers or leaf-tiers, with larvae that construct shelters by binding together leaves of their host plants. The genus contains approximately 14 recognized species distributed primarily in North America. Larvae are associated with woody plants including oaks (Quercus) and American beech (Fagus grandifolia), and serve as hosts for parasitoid wasp communities.
Puto
giant mealybugs, Puto scale insects
Puto is a genus of scale insects in the family Putoidae, commonly known as giant mealybugs. The genus was established by Signoret in 1875 and is distinguished by its large body size relative to other mealybugs, dense white wax coating, and distinctive morphological features including cerarii and multilocular disc-pores. Putoidae is recognized as a distinct family separate from Pseudococcidae, representing a transitional evolutionary group between archaeococcoids and neococcoids. Species in this genus are primarily associated with woody host plants in temperate and montane regions.
Sphaeroteras
Sphaeroteras is a genus of cynipid wasps established by Ashmead in 1897. It is currently recognized as a synonym of Biorhiza, a genus of gall wasps that induce galls on oak trees. Records from Scandinavia suggest these wasps are associated with temperate European oak woodlands.
Stigmella macrocarpae
Stigmella macrocarpae is a pygmy moth in the family Nepticulidae, named for its association with Quercus macrocarpa (bur oak). The species occurs across eastern and central North America, with populations extending to the Pacific Northwest. Larvae are leaf miners that feed internally on oak leaves, creating distinctive serpentine mines. The species was originally described as Stigmella latifasciella in 1878, but this name was preoccupied by a European species, necessitating the current name established in 2016.