Pest
Guides
Monochroa fragariae
strawberry crown miner moth
Monochroa fragariae is a small gelechiid moth described by August Busck in 1919. The species is known from the Pacific Northwest of North America, specifically Oregon and British Columbia. Its common name derives from its association with strawberry plants, where the larvae mine the root crowns. The species is one of relatively few in the genus Monochroa with documented host plant relationships.
Monocrepidius vespertinus
tobacco wireworm
Monocrepidius vespertinus, commonly known as the tobacco wireworm, is a click beetle species in the family Elateridae. The common name refers to the larval stage, which is a soil-dwelling pest known for damaging agricultural crops. The species has been documented in agricultural systems where its larvae feed on plant roots and underground stems.
Mononychus
minute seed weevils
Mononychus is a genus of minute seed weevils (Curculionidae: Ceutorhynchinae) established by E.F. Germar in 1823. The genus contains at least 25 described species distributed across North America, Europe, and parts of Central Asia. Immature stages have been described for at least two species, M. punctumalbum and M. schoenherri, which exhibit distinctive morphological characters within the subfamily. M. punctumalbum, commonly known as the iris weevil, has been documented feeding on Iris species in central Europe.
Monophadnoides rubi
raspberry sawfly, Dark Bramble-cutter
Monophadnoides rubi, commonly known as the raspberry sawfly or Dark Bramble-cutter, is a species of common sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae. It is a defoliating pest of Rubus species, particularly raspberry and blackberry. The species is native to North America and has been documented across Canada and the United States.
Monostegia
Monostegia is a genus of sawflies in the family Tenthredinidae. The genus contains at least one well-known species, M. abdominalis, commonly called the loosestrife sawfly. Adults are characterized by black heads and thoraxes with yellow legs and abdomens. The genus has a holarctic distribution, originally native to Europe and Asia but introduced to North America in the 1950s, where it has since expanded its range considerably.
Musca domestica
house fly, common house fly
Musca domestica is a cosmopolitan synanthropic fly and the most abundant insect in confined cattle operations. Adults are small (6–7 mm), gray with four dark longitudinal stripes on the thorax and creamy yellow abdominal sides. They do not bite but feed on blood, sweat, tears, saliva, and other bodily fluids, causing cattle to exhibit defensive behaviors including ear flapping, head shaking, and feeding hesitancy. The species completes development from egg to adult in as little as two weeks under optimal conditions, with up to 12 generations annually in temperate climates. Females deposit 75–150 eggs per batch in decaying organic matter, particularly manure and rotting vegetation. House flies are mechanical vectors of over 200 pathogens including E. coli, and can infest cattle wounds with maggots.
Mycophila speyeri
Mycophila speyeri is a mushroom-infesting cecid fly in the family Cecidomyiidae, first described by Barnes in 1926. It reproduces primarily through larval paedogenesis, a form of asexual reproduction in which larvae produce daughter larvae directly. Sexual reproduction and adult flies are rarely observed in commercial mushroom growing operations. The species has been documented as a significant pest of cultivated mushrooms in Pennsylvania and has been reported from China and several European countries including Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Japan.
Myllocerus undecimpustulatus
Sri Lanka weevil, yellow-headed ravenous weevil
Myllocerus undecimpustulatus is an oriental broad-nosed weevil (Curculionidae: Entiminae) native to Sri Lanka and the Indian subcontinent. It is a polyphagous pest with a wide host range that has established invasive populations in Florida, USA, since at least 2000. The species exhibits distinctive sexual behavior including female abdominal rocking as a mate-strength test and prolonged copulatory guarding by males. It shows seasonal variation in cold tolerance and feeding activity, with winter-collected adults consuming more leaf material after cold exposure than summer-collected individuals.
Myzocallis coryli
Hazel Aphid, Filbert Aphid
Myzocallis coryli, commonly known as the hazel aphid or filbert aphid, is a specialist phloem-feeding aphid that exclusively infests species of the genus Corylus (hazelnuts). Native to Europe, it has established populations in North America and was first recorded in Tasmania in 2019 as a recent introduction. The species is a significant agricultural pest in hazelnut orchards, particularly in Oregon and Turkey, where heavy infestations can stunt nut development and reduce commercial viability. Population dynamics are strongly temperature-dependent, with optimal development around 22°C and decline above 25°C.
Myzocallis walshii
Black-bordered oak aphid
Myzocallis walshii is a North American aphid species that has established in Europe as an invasive pest of American red oak (Quercus rubra). Native parasitoids in the northeastern Iberian Peninsula have adapted to this introduced aphid. The species has been recorded across much of North America and has spread to at least 15 European countries.
Myzus
Myzus is a genus of aphids in the family Aphididae with cosmopolitan distribution, originally native to the Old World. The genus contains economically significant pest species, most notably Myzus persicae (green peach aphid), which is a major vector of plant viruses affecting crops worldwide. Species in this genus exhibit complex life cycles involving host alternation between primary woody hosts and secondary herbaceous hosts. Several Myzus species have been extensively studied for their role in agricultural pest management and virus transmission.
Myzus persicae
green peach aphid, greenfly, peach-potato aphid
Myzus persicae is a globally distributed aphid pest with a life cycle alternating between primary woody hosts (Prunus spp., especially peach) and secondary herbaceous hosts across 40 plant families. The species exhibits cyclical parthenogenesis in most populations, with sexual reproduction and egg-laying restricted to autumn on primary hosts. It is the most economically important aphid vector of plant viruses, capable of transmitting over 100 different viruses to crops including potato, tobacco, and brassicas. Some genotypes have lost sexual reproduction entirely, becoming obligate parthenogens that persist year-round on secondary hosts.
Naupactus
White-fringed Weevils
Naupactus is a large genus of weevils in the family Curculionidae, commonly known as white-fringed weevils. The genus comprises exclusively Neotropical species, several of which have been introduced to other regions and become significant agricultural pests. Members of this genus are characterized by reduced humeri and lack of metathoracic wings, traits formerly used to separate them into the genus Graphognathus before taxonomic revision. Some species exhibit parthenogenetic reproduction, and flightless adults are common.
Nematus
Willow Sawflies
Nematus is a genus of sawflies (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) commonly known as willow sawflies. Species within this genus are phytophagous, with larvae feeding on leaves of various host plants including willows, poplars, birches, and rhododendrons. Several species are recognized as significant economic pests of fruit bushes, trees, and ornamental plants. The genus has a wide geographic distribution spanning Europe, Asia, and North America.
Nemorimyza
Nemorimyza is a genus of leaf-mining flies in the family Agromyzidae, established by Frey in 1946. The genus contains at least three described species distributed across multiple continents. Some species are documented as pests of cultivated plants, particularly within the Asteraceae family. The genus belongs to the subfamily Phytomyzinae, a group characterized by larval feeding habits that create distinctive mines in leaf tissue.
Neoalbertia constans
Grape Leaf Skeletonizer
Neoalbertia constans is a zygaenid moth species commonly known as the Grape Leaf Skeletonizer. The species was originally described as Lycomorpha constans by Edwards in 1881 and later transferred to the genus Neoalbertia. It is recognized as a defoliating pest of grapevines in North America. The common name reflects the distinctive feeding damage caused by larvae, which consume leaf tissue between veins while leaving the vascular framework intact.
Neoaliturus tenellus
Beet Leafhopper
Neoaliturus tenellus, commonly known as the beet leafhopper, is a significant agricultural pest in western North America. This leafhopper species is a documented vector of Candidatus Phytoplasma trifolii (CPt) and beet curly top virus (BCTV), pathogens that affect potato, sugar beet, and other vegetable and seed crops. The species exhibits complex seasonal movement patterns between crop and noncrop hosts, utilizing weedy vegetation for overwintering and summer development. Its population dynamics and pathogen transmission ecology have been studied extensively in the Columbia River Basin and southern New Mexico to improve pest management forecasting.
Neococytius cluentius
Cluentius sphinx
Neococytius cluentius, commonly known as the Cluentius sphinx, is a large hawkmoth in the family Sphingidae. It is the sole species in its genus. The species has a broad distribution across the Neotropics, extending northward into the southern United States. Adults are powerful fliers and are attracted to light.
Neofidia lurida
grape rootworm
Neofidia lurida, commonly known as the grape rootworm, is a leaf beetle in family Chrysomelidae. It is distributed across eastern North America, extending south to Mexico and north to Quebec. The species is recognized as an economic pest of grape cultivation due to larval feeding damage on roots. Adults are small, hairy beetles active in late spring and early summer.
Neohydatothrips
soybean thrips (N. variabilis), marigold thrips (N. samayunkur)
Neohydatothrips is the most species-rich genus in the Thripidae subfamily Sericothripinae, with approximately 120 described species. Members are phytophagous thrips that feed and breed on leaves and flowers of diverse host plants. Several species are economically significant agricultural pests and plant virus vectors, including N. variabilis (soybean thrips), which transmits soybean vein necrosis orthotospovirus. The genus has a global distribution with approximately 70% of species occurring in the New World.
Neolecanium
Neolecanium is a genus of soft scale insects (family Coccidae) established by Parrott in 1901. The genus includes species that are pests of woody plants, notably magnolia scale (Neolecanium cornuparvum), which is monitored by the USA National Phenology Network for phenology-based pest management. Like other soft scales, members of this genus possess a waxy protective covering and feed on plant phloem. The genus is included in the Pheno Forecast program, which uses heat accumulation models to predict insect development and optimize control timing.
Neolecanium cornuparvum
Magnolia scale
Neolecanium cornuparvum, commonly known as the magnolia scale, is a soft scale insect in the family Coccidae. It is a significant pest of magnolia trees in North America, where heavy infestations can cause branch dieback and tree decline. The species is included in the USA National Phenology Network's Pheno Forecast system, which uses heat accumulation models to predict its life cycle stages for optimized pest management. N. cornuparvum has been documented in the United States, including in Vermont.
Neomyzus circumflexus
Crescent-marked lily aphid, Mottled arum aphid
Neomyzus circumflexus is a polyphagous aphid species known by two common names reflecting its association with lilies and arums. It is a significant greenhouse and ornamental pest, feeding on phloem sap and transmitting plant viruses. The species exhibits temperature-dependent immune responses to parasitoids and has been extensively studied for its nutritional physiology, including artificial diet requirements and symbiont dependencies.
Neoscapteriscus abbreviatus
short-winged mole cricket, lesser short-winged mole cricket
Neoscapteriscus abbreviatus is a flightless mole cricket native to eastern Brazil that has been introduced to Florida, the Caribbean, and Central America. It is a significant turf pest, causing substantial economic damage to lawns and grasslands. Unlike congeners, males do not produce calling songs to attract females. The species is distinguished by its abbreviated wings and characteristic foreleg claw morphology.
Neoscapteriscus borellii
Southern Mole Cricket
Neoscapteriscus borellii, commonly known as the southern mole cricket, is a fossorial orthopteran native to South America that has become an established invasive pest in the southeastern United States since its introduction around 1900. Unlike its herbivorous relatives, this species is primarily predatory, feeding on insects and earthworms. Its extensive tunneling in sandy soils damages lawns, pastures, golf courses, and cultivated plants by loosening soil, uprooting vegetation, and promoting desiccation.
Neoscapteriscus vicinus
tawny mole cricket
Neoscapteriscus vicinus, the tawny mole cricket, is a burrowing orthopteran native to South America that has become established in the southeastern United States since its introduction around 1900. The species was reclassified from Scapteriscus to the new genus Neoscapteriscus in 2015 based on morphological differences. It is a significant agricultural and turf pest that damages plants through root feeding and tunneling activities.
Nola cereella
sorghum webworm, sorghum webworm moth
Nola cereella, commonly known as the sorghum webworm, is a small moth in the family Nolidae. The species was first described by Louis Augustin Guillaume Bosc in 1800. Adults have a wingspan of 12–18 mm and are active from July to September. The larvae feed specifically on Sorghum vulgare, making this species an agricultural pest of sorghum crops.
Nylanderia fulva
Tawny Crazy Ant, Rasberry Crazy Ant, Caribbean Crazy Ant, Brown Crazy Ant, Invasive Crazy Ant, Hairy Crazy Ant
Nylanderia fulva, commonly known as the tawny crazy ant, is an invasive ant species native to South America that has become a significant pest in the southern United States. The species is characterized by its erratic, rapid movement patterns and ability to form enormous supercolonies with millions of workers. It was first reported in the continental United States in 1938 but only recognized as a serious pest in the 1990s in Florida and 2000s in Texas. The ant exhibits a unicolonial social structure in its invasive range, with interconnected nests showing no intraspecific aggression.
Oberea ocellata
Sumac stem borer
Oberea ocellata is a flat-faced longhorn beetle in the tribe Saperdini, commonly known as the sumac stem borer. It is a documented pest of woody plants, with larvae developing inside host stems and causing structural damage. The species has a three-year life cycle and is distributed across North America.
Oberea perspicillata
Raspberry Cane Borer
Oberea perspicillata, commonly known as the raspberry cane borer, is a species of flat-faced longhorn beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It is distributed across North America, with records from Canada (Manitoba, Ontario, Québec) and the United States. The species belongs to the genus Oberea, a group of small to medium-sized longhorn beetles often associated with woody plants.
Oberea tripunctata
dogwood twig borer
Oberea tripunctata, commonly known as the dogwood twig borer, is a species of longhorn beetle in the family Cerambycidae. Adults emerge in early June and feed on dogwood twigs, causing girdling damage. Females lay eggs singly on healthy twigs; larvae bore into twigs and overwinter in stems, with some individuals taking up to two years to complete development. The species is considered a minor pest of flowering dogwood and has been recorded from additional hosts including elm, azalea, viburnum, and various fruit trees.
Ochlerotatus sollicitans
eastern saltmarsh mosquito, salt marsh mosquito
Ochlerotatus sollicitans, commonly known as the eastern saltmarsh mosquito, is a floodwater mosquito species native to coastal regions of eastern North America. It is a significant pest species known for aggressive biting behavior and daytime activity. The species is a competent vector for several arboviruses including Eastern equine encephalitis virus and West Nile virus. Its populations can explode following tidal flooding or heavy rainfall events in salt marsh habitats.
Odontopus
Odontopus is a genus of weevils (family Curculionidae) established by Say in 1832. The genus contains species associated with leaf-mining habits on host plants, with documented associations to Annona species (Annonaceae) and Pterygota alata. Species within this genus exhibit endophytic oviposition and larval development within leaf tissue. The genus has been reported from Brazil and India, though taxonomic records contain conflicting information about its composition and validity.
Odontota
locust leaf miners
Odontota is a genus of leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae, comprising approximately eight to nine described species. The genus includes notable agricultural and forestry pests, particularly species that mine leaves of leguminous trees. The most well-known species, Odontota dorsalis (locust leaf miner), feeds on black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) and related species, causing distinctive "scorched" foliage damage. Several species have been documented with specialized behaviors including extended copulation and post-copulatory mate guarding.
Odontota dorsalis
locust leaf miner, locust leafminer
Odontota dorsalis, commonly known as the locust leaf miner, is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is native to North America and feeds primarily on black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) and related species in the Fabaceae family. The beetle is known for producing distinctive 'scorched' damage on host trees, caused by both adult skeletonization and larval leaf mining. Two generations occur annually in most of its range.
Oebalus insularis
island stink bug, coffee-colored rice bug
Oebalus insularis is a stink bug species in the family Pentatomidae that has emerged as a significant agricultural pest in rice-growing regions of the Americas. Originally described from tropical and subtropical regions, it has established populations in Florida rice fields since at least 1932, where it became the second most abundant stink bug species in surveys conducted in 2008-2009. The species feeds on developing rice grains using piercing-sucking mouthparts, causing 'pecky rice' damage that reduces crop yield and quality. Its economic importance has prompted research into biological control agents, including egg parasitoids in the genus Telenomus.
Oedaleonotus enigma
Valley Grasshopper
Oedaleonotus enigma, the valley grasshopper, is a large, colorful spur-throated grasshopper native to western North America. It is a significant rangeland pest capable of reaching outbreak densities exceeding 20 adults per square yard. The species exhibits wing dimorphism, with both short-winged (brachypterous) and long-winged (macropterous) forms occurring in populations. It is notable for early spring hatching and a relatively long nymphal period of 42-50 days due to cool temperatures and six instars rather than the typical five.
Oedipodinae
Bandwing Grasshoppers, band-winged grasshoppers
Oedipodinae, commonly known as bandwing grasshoppers, is a subfamily of grasshoppers within the family Acrididae. Members are characterized by colorful, often banded hindwings that are typically concealed at rest but revealed during flight. The subfamily has a worldwide distribution and includes many species adapted to xeric and open habitats. Some Oedipodinae species are among the most economically important locusts, capable of forming dense migratory swarms that cause extensive agricultural damage.
Oinophila v-flava
Yellow V Moth
A small tineid moth with a wingspan of approximately 10 mm, widespread across temperate zones worldwide. Adults are active in the evening during summer months in western Europe. The species has established populations in New Zealand since 2001.
Oligia
Oligia is a genus of noctuid moths comprising over 60 described species distributed across Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Species are small to medium-sized moths typically associated with grassland habitats. Several species are economically significant as pests of forage grasses, while others have served as models for studying melanism evolution. Species-level identification often requires genitalia examination due to morphological similarity among closely related taxa.
Oligia strigilis
Marbled Minor
Oligia strigilis, the Marbled Minor, is a noctuid moth distributed across Britain, Europe, and Central Asia, with accidental introduction and rapid spread in northeastern North America. It is one of three similar Oligia species in the UK that require genitalia examination for reliable identification. The species has declined by 76% in Britain since the 1970s despite potential range expansion. Melanic forms occur frequently and have been of significant evolutionary interest.
Oligomerus
death-watch beetles
Oligomerus is a genus of death-watch beetles in the family Ptinidae, containing approximately 18 described species. These wood-boring beetles are known for their association with timber and wooden structures, where their larvae create distinctive exit holes. The genus was established by Redtenbacher in 1849. Species in this genus are primarily distributed in Europe, with records from Norway and Sweden documented in biodiversity databases.
Oligonychus ununguis
spruce spider mite
Oligonychus ununguis, commonly known as the spruce spider mite, is a globally distributed pest of coniferous trees, particularly spruce. It is considered one of the most important pests of spruce plantations in Ontario and causes significant damage to ornamental conifers. The mite feeds on needle sap, causing foliage discoloration, and produces silk webbing that accumulates dust. Populations thrive in cool spring and autumn conditions but decline during hot summer weather when temperatures exceed 85°F.
Omophron labiatum
large-lipped round sand beetle
Omophron labiatum is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae, commonly known as the large-lipped round sand beetle. It occurs in North America, where it inhabits margins of ponds, lakes, and rivers in coastal lowlands. Adults are nocturnal and gregarious, hiding in ground burrows during daylight hours. The larvae have been reported to feed on grains and corn, leading to occasional pest status in agricultural contexts.
Oncideres
Twig Girdling Beetles, Twig Girdlers
Oncideres is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae: Lamiinae) containing over 120 species distributed throughout the Nearctic and Neotropics. These beetles are commonly known as twig girdlers due to the distinctive behavior of females chewing around branches to cause them to break and fall. The larvae develop within the girdled, decomposing wood. Several species are economically significant pests of fruit trees, pecans, and forest trees, while others play roles in ecosystem engineering by altering host plant population structure.
Oncometopia
sharpshooters
Oncometopia is a genus of sharpshooters (leafhoppers in the family Cicadellidae) found in North and South America, erected by Carl Stål in 1869. Species range from 9.4 to 15.0 mm in length and are characterized by distinctive morphological features including a moderately produced head, coriaceous forewings with apical membranes, and specialized hindleg tarsomere proportions. Several species are economically important as vectors of plant pathogens, particularly Xylella fastidiosa, which causes diseases such as phony peach disease and citrus variegated chlorosis.
Operophtera brumata
Winter Moth
Operophtera brumata, the winter moth, is a geometrid moth native to Europe and the Near East that has been introduced to North America. It is notable among temperate Lepidoptera for adult activity during late fall and early winter. Females are flightless, while males are fully winged. The species is a significant pest of deciduous trees and an important food source for birds such as Blue Tits, which feed their young almost exclusively on winter moth caterpillars. The USA National Phenology Network includes this species in its Pheno Forecast program to aid pest management.
Ophiomyia kwansonis
Daylily Leafminer
Ophiomyia kwansonis is a leaf-miner fly in the family Agromyzidae. It is known as the Daylily Leafminer based on its documented association with Hemerocallis species. The species was described by Sasakawa in 1961 and has been recorded across eastern North America, parts of Asia, and Europe.
Opogona
fungus moths
Opogona is a genus of fungus moths in the family Tineidae, representing the type genus of subfamily Hieroxestinae. The genus is most diverse in tropical regions, with approximately 30 species known from Australia alone. Some species have been introduced outside their native ranges, including the banana moth (O. sacchari) and O. omoscopa in Europe. The genus exhibits exceptional radiation on St Helena Island in the South Atlantic, where 41 species occur, 31 of them endemic.
Opogona omoscopa
Detritus Moth, Opogona Crown Borer
Opogona omoscopa is a small moth in the family Tineidae with a wingspan of 18–22 mm. It has a broad native distribution spanning western Australia, New Zealand, southeast Asia, Africa, and islands of the Indian Ocean, and has been introduced to Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The species is attracted to ultraviolet light and has been documented at blacklighting events in California.