Oleaceae
Guides
Argopistes
Olive Flea Beetles
Argopistes is a genus of approximately 50 described species of flea beetles in the tribe Alticini. The genus is notable as the only group of flea beetles specialized for feeding on plants in the family Oleaceae. Species occur worldwide, with documented populations in Asia, Africa, Madagascar, Japan, Taiwan, and North America. Several species are economically significant as pests of olive trees or as biological control agents for invasive privet.
Ceratomia
Ceratomia is a genus of hawkmoths (family Sphingidae) erected by Thaddeus William Harris in 1839. The genus contains seven recognized species distributed primarily in North America. Several species are notable for their specialized host plant associations, particularly with Catalpa and Fraxinus (ash). Ceratomia catalpae, the catalpa sphinx, is among the best-studied species due to its chemical sequestration of the iridoid glycoside catalpol from host plants, which provides defense against predators but not against its specialist parasitoid Cotesia congregata. Ceratomia undulosa, the waved sphinx, is an ash specialist whose populations are threatened by emerald ash borer-induced host decline.
Gracillaria syringella
lilac leafminer, privet leafminer, Lilac Leafminer Moth
Gracillaria syringella is a small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, native to Europe and introduced to North America. Adults have a wingspan of 10–13 mm and display distinctive pale yellow-brown forewings with white fasciae and black-margined spots. The species is named for its larval association with lilac (Syringa), though it also mines leaves of privet (Ligustrum) and ash (Fraxinus). It produces two generations annually in most of its range.
Podosesia
Ash and Lilac Borer Moths
Podosesia is a genus of clearwing moths in the family Sesiidae, established by Möschler in 1879 after the original name Grotea was found to be preoccupied. The genus contains at least three described species in North America, including the economically significant lilac borer (P. syringae) and the banded ash clearwing (P. aureocincta). Larvae are wood-borers in woody plants of the olive family (Oleaceae), particularly ash, lilac, and privet. Adults are diurnal and exhibit wasp mimicry in both appearance and behavior.
Sphinx chersis
Great Ash Sphinx, Northern Ash Sphinx
Sphinx chersis is a large sphinx moth commonly known as the great ash sphinx or northern ash sphinx. Adults are active from May to August in southern regions and June to July in northern areas. The species is an ash specialist whose larvae feed on plants in the olive family (Oleaceae), particularly ash (Fraxinus), lilac (Syringa), and privet (Ligustrum). Research indicates that while larvae can develop on some non-native host plants, survival and development rates vary significantly compared to native ash.
Sphinx libocedrus
Incense Cedar Sphinx
Sphinx libocedrus, the incense cedar sphinx, is a hawkmoth in the family Sphingidae first described by Henry Edwards in 1881. The species occurs from western Texas through New Mexico and Arizona to southern California, extending south into Mexico including Sonora and Baja California Sur. Larvae feed on specific host plants in the olive family (Oleaceae), including New Mexican forestiera, Forestiera angustifolia, and Goodding's ash.