Pest
Guides
Synanthedon pictipes
lesser peachtree borer, lesser peach tree borer
Synanthedon pictipes, commonly known as the lesser peachtree borer, is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae. Adults are diurnal wasp mimics with narrow, nearly scaleless wings and a black-and-white color pattern. The species is a significant pest of stone fruit trees, particularly peach, with larvae boring into trunks and branches. It occurs across eastern North America from Canada to Texas.
Synanthedon proxima
dogwood borer
Synanthedon proxima, commonly known as the dogwood borer, is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae. It is native to North America and primarily associated with Cornus species. The species is recognized as a significant pest of ornamental dogwoods, particularly in urban and suburban landscapes. Adults exhibit wasp-mimicking appearance typical of the family, with transparent wings and often yellow or orange coloration. Larval stages bore into the stems and trunks of host plants, causing structural damage.
Synanthedon pyri
Apple Bark Borer
Synanthedon pyri, commonly known as the Apple Bark Borer, is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae. Adults are diurnal and exhibit wasp mimicry, with transparent wings and wasp-like coloration. Larvae are wood-borers that infest the bark and cambium of fruit trees, particularly apple (Malus spp.), causing damage to commercial orchards. The species is native to North America and has been documented as a pest of economic concern in apple-growing regions.
Synanthedon rhododendri
Rhododendron Borer Moth
Synanthedon rhododendri is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, commonly known as the rhododendron borer moth. The species is a specialist pest of rhododendrons and related Ericaceae, with larvae boring into stems and crowns of host plants. Adults are diurnal and exhibit wasp-mimicking appearance typical of the family. The species occurs in the Nearctic region.
Synanthedon scitula
dogwood borer, pecan borer, Dogwood Borer Moth
Synanthedon scitula is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae and a significant pest of woody plants. Larvae tunnel into burrknot tissue and cambium of host trees, causing damage ranging from localized feeding to tree death. The species has one generation per year, with adults active from June through September. It is widely distributed across North America and has been recorded from numerous host species including dogwood, pecan, apple, and many other hardwoods.
Synanthedon tipuliformis
currant clearwing, currant borer moth, currant clearwing moth
Synanthedon tipuliformis, the currant clearwing, is a clearwing moth native to the Palearctic realm that has become invasive in the Nearctic and Australasian realms. Adults are diurnal wasp mimics with transparent wings scaled only along veins and margins. Larvae are internal feeders that bore into the pith of Ribes canes, causing significant damage to currant and gooseberry cultivation. The species is univoltine in temperate regions, with adults emerging in late spring to early summer.
Syneta albida
western fruit beetle
A small leaf beetle in the subfamily Synetinae, found in western North America. Adults feed on foliage of deciduous fruit trees and ornamentals, while larvae develop in soil feeding on roots. The species is considered a minor pest of orchards and gardens.
Syntomeida epilais
Polka-Dot Wasp Moth, Oleander Moth, Uncle Sam Moth
Syntomeida epilais, commonly known as the polka-dot wasp moth or oleander moth, is a day-flying moth native to the Caribbean that has become established in the southeastern United States. The species is notable for its striking aposematic coloration—iridescent blue wings with white polka-dots and a red-tipped abdomen—that mimics the appearance of stinging wasps. Both adults and larvae sequester cardiac glycosides from their host plants, making them toxic to predators. The species possesses the most elaborate acoustic communication system known in the family Erebidae, with females producing ultrasonic signals to attract mates and defend against bats.
Systena frontalis
red-headed flea beetle, Red-headed Systena
Systena frontalis, commonly known as the red-headed flea beetle, is a flea beetle species in the family Chrysomelidae native to North America. It has become a significant economic pest of ornamental plant nurseries across the central and eastern United States, particularly affecting container-grown plants. Adults feed on foliage, creating shotholes and skeletonization that reduce plant salability. The species has expanded its pest status to cranberry production systems and shows a broad host range encompassing numerous woody ornamental species. Its biology includes holometabolous development with four larval instars, and it overwinters as eggs in growing medium or soil.
Tabanidae
Horse and Deer Flies, Horse-flies, Deer flies, Gadflies, Clegs, Green-headed flies
Tabanidae is a family of large, agile true flies comprising approximately 4,455 described species worldwide. Adults are characterized by prominent compound eyes, with females possessing widely separated eyes and males having eyes that nearly touch. Females of most species are blood-feeding ectoparasites of mammals, using blade-like mouthparts to lacerate skin and lap blood for egg development, while males feed exclusively on nectar. Larvae are predaceous and develop in semiaquatic or moist soil habitats. The family includes three well-known subfamilies: Tabaninae (horse flies), Chrysopsinae (deer flies), and Pangoniinae.
Tabanus atratus
Black Horse Fly
Tabanus atratus, commonly known as the black horse fly, is a large, all-black species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae. It is one of the largest horse flies in North America, with body lengths ranging from 20–25 mm. Females are blood-feeders with scissor-like mouthparts used to cut skin and lap blood, while males have reduced mouthparts and do not feed on blood. The species is recognizable by its uniform black coloration and distinctively hooked antennae. Females lay eggs in large masses of 100–1000 eggs near water's edge, with each female capable of producing three to four egg masses.
Tabanus nigrovittatus
greenhead horse fly, salt marsh greenhead, greenhead fly, greenhead, greenfly
Tabanus nigrovittatus, commonly known as the greenhead horse fly or salt marsh greenhead, is a biting horse fly species endemic to coastal salt marshes of the eastern United States. Adult females are aggressive blood-feeders that require vertebrate blood for egg production, while males do not feed on blood. The species is smaller than most horse flies, approximately the size of a house fly. Larvae develop in intertidal salt marsh mud for one to two years, preying on other invertebrates. Adults emerge in late spring and are most active from late June through August. The species is a significant human and animal pest, with populations managed through black box traps rather than insecticides due to ecological concerns.
Tarache
Tarache is a genus of moths in the family Noctuidae, subfamily Acontiinae, erected by Jacob Hübner in 1823. The genus comprises primarily New World species, most of which were formerly classified under the genus Acontia. Taxonomic authorities differ on its status: Catalogue of Life treats Tarache as accepted, while GBIF and some lepidopteran resources list it as a synonym of Acontia. The genus includes approximately 50 described species arranged in three main species groups (aprica, bilimeki, and lucasi groups).
Tarache delecta
Delightful Bird-dropping Moth, Mallow Caterpillar (larval stage)
Tarache delecta, commonly known as the delightful bird-dropping moth, is a noctuid moth in the subfamily Acontiinae. The species was first described by Francis Walker in 1858. It is notable as the only member of the Acontiinae known to feed on plants in the genus Hibiscus. The larval stage, referred to as the 'mallow caterpillar,' has been considered a pest of ornamental mallows.
Taxodiomyia cupressi
Cypress Twig Gall Midge, Cypress Flower Gall Midge
Taxodiomyia cupressi is a gall midge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) that induces distinctive twig galls on cypress trees (Taxodium spp.). The species forms spongy, globular galls on new growth that are initially snow-white and turn brown with age. It has been documented in central Illinois and Missouri, with observations on cultivated bald cypress outside its native range. The midge undergoes complete metamorphosis with multiple generations per year, overwintering as larvae within fallen galls.
gall-midgeCecidomyiidaeTaxodiumbald-cypressgall-formerpestDipterainsectphytophagouscomplete-metamorphosismultiple-generationsoverwintering-larvaeornamental-pestriparianwetlandMissouriIllinoiscentral-USAtwig-gallspongy-gallwhite-gallbrown-gallexit-holesynchronized-emergencehost-specificTaxodiomyia-cupressiananassasynonymSchweinitz-1822Osten-Sacken-1878Taxodiomyia cupressiananassa
cypress twig gall midge
A gall midge in the family Cecidomyiidae that induces distinctive twig galls on cypress trees. The spongy galls are initially snow-white, turning brown with age, and eventually drop from the tree with leaf fall. Larvae pupate within the galls, with adults emerging later in the season or following spring. The species is considered a pest of ornamental and native cypress plantings.
Tetraleurodes
whitefly
Tetraleurodes is a genus of whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) containing multiple species associated with woody plants in the Americas. Species such as T. perseae and T. ursorum are recognized as agricultural pests of avocado and citrus respectively. The genus is characterized by distinctive wing patterns in adults and waxy secretions produced by nymphs. Multiple Eretmocerus species (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) have been documented as parasitoids of Tetraleurodes in Mexico.
Tetraleurodes mori
Mulberry Whitefly
Tetraleurodes mori is a species of whitefly in the family Aleyrodidae, commonly known as the Mulberry Whitefly. The species feeds on mulberry (Morus spp.) and related plants. It is a member of the Sternorrhyncha suborder, which includes sap-feeding insects with piercing-sucking mouthparts. Like other whiteflies, it produces waxy secretions and honeydew, and has been observed in association with its host plants in Florida and other regions where mulberry grows.
Tetraneura
elm-grass root aphids, woolly elm aphids
Tetraneura is a genus of gall-forming aphids in the family Aphididae, comprising more than 30 described species. These aphids are heteroecious, alternating between primary hosts in the genus Ulmus (elms), where they induce characteristic galls on leaves, and secondary hosts in the family Poaceae (grasses), where they feed on roots. The genus is notable for complex host manipulation, with species capable of altering host plant biochemistry to create nutritional sinks within galls. Several species, including the alien T. nigriabdominalis, are expanding their ranges in Europe and pose potential threats to cereal crops such as maize.
Thripinae
Thripinae is a subfamily of thrips (order Thysanoptera, family Thripidae) comprising approximately 1,400 species across 150 genera. The subfamily contains the majority of economically significant pest thrips, including species that damage crops through direct feeding and virus transmission. A 2012 molecular phylogeny found Thripinae to be paraphyletic, indicating that taxonomic revisions are needed to clarify relationships within the group. Members are distributed worldwide, with particularly high diversity in tropical and subtropical regions.
Thryallis
Thryallis is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae: Lamiinae: Anisocerini) established by Thomson in 1858. The genus is known to include species that function as wood-boring agricultural pests. Thryallis undatus has been documented damaging Persian lime orchards in Veracruz, Mexico, where larvae tunnel into trunks and branches causing tree mortality. The genus name has been subject to nomenclatural confusion with a plant genus of the same name in Malpighiaceae.
Thryallis undatus
Thryallis undatus is a longhorn beetle (Cerambycidae: Lamiinae: Anisocerini) first described by Chevrolat in 1834. The species has been documented as a pest of Persian lime (Citrus latifolia) in commercial orchards in Veracruz, Mexico, where adults oviposit on trunks and branches and larvae create galleries 2–5 cm deep. This represents the first record of the species associated with the Rutaceae family. Native distribution includes Middle America and North America, with records from Guatemala and Honduras.
Thyanta
redshouldered stink bugs, red-shouldered stink bugs
Thyanta is a genus of stink bugs in the family Pentatomidae containing approximately 19 described species. Species in this genus are recognized by a distinctive reddish band across the pronotum (the 'shoulder' region behind the head), giving them the common name 'redshouldered stink bugs.' Several Thyanta species are significant agricultural pests, particularly of soybean, corn, and various legume crops. The genus is native to the Americas, with species distributed from North America through South America.
Thymelicus lineola
Essex Skipper, European Skipper
Thymelicus lineola is a small skipper butterfly native to Europe and introduced to North America prior to 1910. In Europe it is known as the Essex Skipper; in North America it is called the European Skipper. The species has spread extensively across eastern Canada and the northern United States, with populations established as far west as British Columbia. It is univoltine with five larval instars. Adults are active in summer and exhibit thermoregulatory basking behavior. Males use perching and patrolling strategies to locate mates and release pheromones from androconial scent scales during courtship.
Thyridopteryx
bagworm moths
Thyridopteryx is a genus of bagworm moths (Psychidae) comprising five described species. The genus is best known for T. ephemeraeformis, the evergreen bagworm or North American bagworm, a significant pest of ornamental and landscape plants. Larvae construct protective cases from silk and plant fragments, which they carry throughout their development. The genus exhibits unusual sexual dimorphism: males are winged and capable of flight, while females are wingless and remain within their cases for life.
Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis
Evergreen Bagworm Moth, Eastern Bagworm, Common Bagworm, Common Basket Worm, North American Bagworm
Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis, the evergreen bagworm moth, is a polyphagous pest species in the family Psychidae. Larvae construct distinctive silken bags decorated with plant fragments, which they carry throughout their development. Males emerge as winged adults with nearly scale-free, transparent wings—reflected in the genus name derived from Greek thyris (window) and ptera (wing). Females remain wingless and never leave their bags, releasing sex pheromones to attract mates. The species exhibits remarkable sexual dimorphism in both morphology and behavior, with males and females showing differential stratification on host trees and distinct pupation heights.
Thyrinteina arnobia
eucalyptus brown looper, brown looper caterpillar
Thyrinteina arnobia is a geometrid moth native to the Americas and a major pest of Eucalyptus plantations in Brazil. The species occurs throughout South America and parts of Central and North America, where it feeds primarily on Myrtaceae, with Eucalyptus serving as a vulnerable host in commercial plantations. Larval infestations can reduce annual Eucalyptus biomass production by up to 40%, making it the primary defoliator of subtropical and tropical Brazilian eucalyptus farms. Population genetic studies indicate low genetic diversity in Brazil with three regional mitochondrial haplogroups, suggesting outbreaks arise from local populations rather than long-distance dispersal.
Tinea
Tinea is a genus of fungus moths in the family Tineidae, established as one of the earliest subgroups of moths. It is the type genus of both its family and subfamily. Historically, the genus encompassed many species now placed in other genera. Species within Tinea include economically significant pests such as the casemaking clothes moth (Tinea pellionella).
Tinea pellionella
case-bearing clothes moth, casemaking clothes moth, fur moth
Tinea pellionella is a small tineid moth commonly known as the case-bearing or casemaking clothes moth. It is a cosmopolitan pest of stored woollen goods and natural keratinous materials. The species is distinguished by larval behavior: caterpillars construct portable silken cases reinforced with debris and food fibers, which they carry while feeding. Adults are weak fliers with reduced mouthparts and do not feed. The species has become less common in modern centrally heated homes due to drier conditions.
Tineola bisselliella
webbing clothes moth, common clothes moth, clothing moth
Tineola bisselliella is a small moth in the family Tineidae, notable as a significant pest of stored wool and natural fibers. Adults are 6–7 mm in body length with a 9–16 mm wingspan, characterized by pale yellowish-ochreous forewings and a distinctive red-orange tuft of hair on the head. The species is synanthropic, now rarely found outside human dwellings. Larvae possess the unusual ability to digest keratin, enabling them to feed on wool, silk, fur, and other animal-derived materials. Adults do not feed and have atrophied mouthparts; all damage is caused by larval feeding.
Tipula vestigipennis
Tipula vestigipennis is a crane fly species in the family Tipulidae, first described by Rennie Wilbur Doane in 1908. The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism in body size, with females substantially larger than males. It is endemic to a highly restricted range in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, where it has been documented as a pest species destructive to vegetation and crops. The species belongs to the subgenus Triplicitipula.
Tolype
Tolype Moths
Tolype is a genus of moths in the family Lasiocampidae, subfamily Poecilocampinae, established by Jacob Hübner in 1820. Species within this genus are known for caterpillars bearing urticating (stinging) hairs that can cause skin irritation in humans. At least one species, Tolype innocens, has been documented as a pest of blueberry crops in South America, where larvae feed on leaves and new shoots. The genus exhibits polyphagous feeding habits, with larvae consuming foliage from both forest plants and agricultural crops.
Trachymela sloanei
Australian tortoise beetle, small eucalyptus tortoise beetle
Trachymela sloanei is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, native to Australia where it feeds on Eucalyptus trees. The species has established invasive populations in multiple regions including California, Chile, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and China. It was first detected in Europe in 2014 and reported from Algeria in May 2025, representing the first African record. The beetle is recognized as a defoliating pest of Eucalyptus species with potential economic and ecological impacts in invaded regions.
Trichiocampus
Trichiocampus is a genus of sawflies in the family Tenthredinidae. The genus includes species associated with poplar trees (Populus spp.), with at least one species, T. viminalis, known to cause significant defoliation during population outbreaks. Members occur across a broad circumpolar distribution spanning Europe and northern North America.
Trigonorhinus
fungus weevils
Trigonorhinus is a genus of fungus weevils in the beetle family Anthribidae, comprising approximately 15-16 described species. The genus includes wood-boring species that develop in plant tissues, with at least one species documented as a pest of Caragana liouana in arid regions of China. A notable species, Trigonorhinus sp., has been demonstrated to rely on gut bacterial symbionts for production of male aggregation pheromones essential for mate attraction.
Trimerotropis pallidipennis
pallidwinged grasshopper
The pallidwinged grasshopper is a moderately-sized bandwinged grasshopper with the most extensive distribution of any bandwinged grasshopper in the New World, ranging from southwestern Canada to Argentina. It inhabits desert and semidesert environments where populations undergo sporadic irruptions that can cause significant agricultural damage. The species possesses strong flight capabilities and is known for nocturnal swarming behavior attracted to artificial lights. Outbreaks are typically brief, lasting one to two years, and are associated with above-normal rainfall that promotes egg survival and nymphal development.
Trimerotropis pallidipennis
Pallid-winged Grasshopper, Pallidwinged Grasshopper
Trimerotropis pallidipennis is a moderately-sized bandwinged grasshopper with the widest distribution of any bandwinged grasshopper in the New World, ranging from southwestern Canada to Argentina. It is primarily a desert and semi-desert species that exhibits sporadic irruptive population outbreaks in western North America, during which it becomes a significant agricultural pest. The species possesses strong flight capabilities that enable long-distance dispersal and migration from deteriorating habitats. Population irruptions have been documented in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Utah, with outbreaks typically lasting one to two years.
Trogoderma glabrum
glabrous cabinet beetle, colored cabinet beetle
Trogoderma glabrum is a dermestid beetle known for its unusual developmental plasticity. Under optimal conditions, it completes its life cycle in approximately eight weeks, but when deprived of food, large larvae can extend their lifespan to over two years through a process of 'retrogressive molting'—molting backwards into progressively smaller stages rather than progressing toward pupation. This species is a pest of stored products and has been documented in Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. Females exhibit circadian-regulated sex pheromone release behavior synchronized to photoperiod.
Trogoxylon
Trogoxylon is a genus of powderpost beetles in the family Bostrichidae, subfamily Lyctinae. These wood-boring beetles are characterized by their association with dry, seasoned wood. The genus includes approximately 15 described species distributed across multiple regions. Trogoxylon impressum has been documented as a pest of fig plants in Turkey, where it causes damage through larval tunneling.
Trogoxylon parallelipipedum
Velvety Powderpost Beetle, Velvety Powder-post Beetle
Trogoxylon parallelipipedum is a powderpost beetle in the family Bostrichidae. It is distributed across Australia, Europe and Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. The species is known by the common name velvety powderpost beetle, reflecting its characteristic appearance. Like other members of the subfamily Lyctinae, it is associated with wood-boring habits.
Trypodendron domesticum
European hardwood ambrosia beetle
Trypodendron domesticum is a European ambrosia beetle in the family Curculionidae. It is a wood-boring pest of hardwoods that has been introduced to North America. The species is morphologically similar to the closely related T. lineatum, requiring molecular methods for reliable identification. It is one of four Trypodendron species documented in Europe.
Tupiocoris notatus
Suckfly
Tupiocoris notatus is a small mirid bug (2–3 mm) specializing on Solanaceae host plants. It feeds on mesophyll cell contents of plants such as Datura wrightii and Nicotiana attenuata. The species undergoes incomplete metamorphosis with multiple nymph stages. It has become an important model organism for studying plant-herbivore chemical ecology and host plant-specific transcriptional responses.
Tyloderma fragariae
strawberry crown borer
Tyloderma fragariae is a hidden snout weevil in the family Curculionidae, commonly known as the strawberry crown borer. The species is a documented agricultural pest of strawberry plants, with larvae boring into crowns and causing significant damage to cultivated crops.
Typhlocybinae
microleafhoppers
Typhlocybinae is a subfamily of leafhoppers (Cicadellidae) containing approximately 6,000 described species across ~300 genera, making it the second-largest leafhopper subfamily by described species and likely the largest when undescribed taxa are included. Members are commonly known as microleafhoppers due to their small size. Many species are significant agricultural pests of crops including cotton, grape, and eggplant. The subfamily is divided into five generally accepted tribes: Alebrini, Dikraneurini, Empoascini, Erythroneurini, and Typhlocybini.
Udea rubigalis
Celery Leaftier, Greenhouse Leaftier
Udea rubigalis is a small moth in the family Crambidae, commonly known as the celery leaftier or greenhouse leaftier. The species occurs throughout the Americas, from North America through Central and South America. Larvae are polyphagous and feed on a wide variety of plants across multiple families. Adults have been documented visiting apple flowers, where they may contribute to nocturnal pollination.
Unaspis euonymi
Euonymus Scale
Unaspis euonymi is a diaspidid scale insect native to East Asia and now widespread as an invasive pest. It infests Euonymus species and several other ornamental plants, causing significant damage in urban and suburban landscapes. The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism in both morphology and feeding behavior. It has been extensively studied as a target for classical biological control using introduced and native natural enemies.
Undulambia polystichalis
Leatherleaf Fern Borer Moth
Undulambia polystichalis, commonly known as the leatherleaf fern borer moth, is a small pyralid moth described by Capps in 1965. The species is notable for its specialized larval association with Rumohra adiantiformis, a commercially important fern species. It represents one of the few documented cases of fern-boring behavior within the Musotiminae subfamily.
Urola nivalis
Snowy Urola Moth
Urola nivalis, commonly known as the snowy urola moth, is a small crambid moth found across eastern and central North America. Adults are active from May through September, producing two generations annually. The species has a wingspan of 15–23 mm. Larvae feed on grasses and have been recorded as pests of Ligustrum species.
Uroleucon ambrosiae
Brown Ambrosia Aphid
Uroleucon ambrosiae is a medium-sized aphid in the family Aphididae, commonly known as the brown ambrosia aphid. Native to North America, it exhibits geographic variation in host specificity, with eastern populations highly specialized on giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida) while southwestern populations feed more broadly on Asteraceae plants. In Brazil, it has emerged as a significant pest of hydroponically-grown lettuce, where it vectors lettuce mosaic virus and promotes sooty mold through honeydew excretion. The species reproduces parthenogenetically during spring and summer, forming all-female colonies. Its populations serve as important prey for diverse natural enemies including flower fly larvae, lady beetles, lacewings, and parasitic wasps, making it a key component of biological control food webs in both natural and agricultural systems.
Uroleucon sonchi
Sow-thistle Aphid, Large Sow-thistle Aphid, Brown Lettuce Aphid
Uroleucon sonchi is a large aphid species in the family Aphididae, commonly known as the sow-thistle aphid or brown lettuce aphid. Native to the Palaearctic region, it has been introduced to multiple continents and is now cosmopolitan in distribution. The species is economically significant as a pest of cultivated lettuce and related crops, while also occurring on wild Asteraceae hosts. It reproduces parthenogenetically during spring and summer, typical of many aphids.