Phytophagous
Guides
Nezara
Green Vegetable Bugs
Nezara is a genus of plant-feeding stink bugs in the family Pentatomidae, established by Amyot and Serville in 1843. The genus contains approximately 20 described species distributed across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. The most economically significant species is Nezara viridula (Linnaeus, 1758), commonly known as the southern green stink bug or green vegetable bug, which is a major agricultural pest of legumes, cotton, and numerous other crops. Several species have been documented as pests of soybean and other economically important crops in South America, with N. viridula being particularly problematic due to its cosmopolitan distribution and polyphagous feeding habits.
Niesthrea louisianica
Hibiscus Scentless Plant Bug
Niesthrea louisianica is a small scentless plant bug in the family Rhopalidae, measuring 6.5-8.5 mm in body length. It is native to North America, ranging from New York to Florida and west to California, with populations also present in Hawaii. The species is a specialist feeder on plants in the mallow family (Malvaceae), including Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus), cotton, okra, and velvetleaf. It has been investigated as a biological control agent for the agricultural weed velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti), capable of reducing viable seed production by 98-99% through feeding damage to reproductive structures.
Oberea
Oberea is a genus of longhorn beetles (family Cerambycidae) in the tribe Obereini. Most species are stem borers of various plants, with documented associations including blackberries and their relatives, willows, aspen, and Euphorbia species. The genus has a broad distribution across North America, Europe, and parts of Asia and Africa. Several species have been investigated for biological control of invasive plants, including Oberea erythrocephala for leafy spurge management in Canada.
Oecleus lyra
Oecleus lyra is a species of planthopper in the family Cixiidae, described by Kramer in 1977. It belongs to the tribe Oecleini within the subfamily Cixiinae. Like other cixiids, it is a member of the superfamily Delphacoidea, a group of true bugs characterized by their plant-sap feeding habits. The species has been documented in Arizona based on distribution records.
Oligonychus
Oligonychus is a genus of spider mites in the family Tetranychidae containing approximately 200 described species. Many species are significant agricultural pests attacking diverse crops including tea, coffee, corn, sugarcane, date palms, and numerous ornamental plants. The genus exhibits broad host plant associations spanning monocots and dicots, with several species causing economically important damage through leaf feeding.
Oligotrophus
Oligotrophus is a genus of gall midges (Cecidomyiidae: Diptera) established by Latreille in 1804. Species are gall-forming insects that induce abnormal plant growths on various host plants, with documented associations to birch (Betulaceae) and juniper (Cupressaceae). The genus contains univoltine species with specialized life cycles tied to host phenology. Several species have been studied for their economic impact on ornamental and forest trees.
Orsilochides stictica
Orsilochides stictica is a species of shield-backed bug in the family Scutelleridae, a group of true bugs characterized by a greatly enlarged scutellum that covers most of the abdomen and wings. The species is moderately well-documented with over 780 observations, primarily in North America. Members of this genus are often associated with host plants in the family Fabaceae. The species exhibits the typical shield bug body plan with metallic or patterned coloration common in the family.
Orthocephalus coriaceus
hairy plant bug
Orthocephalus coriaceus is a plant bug in the family Miridae. It is native to Europe, including European Russia, Ukraine, and the Balkans, and has been introduced to North America. The species feeds on various Asteraceae plants and is known to occur as a horticultural pest in North America.
Orthotylinae
Orthotylinae is a large subfamily of plant bugs (Miridae) comprising at least 650 described species across at least 70 genera. Members are distributed globally, with particularly high diversity in Australia and the Palearctic region. The subfamily is traditionally diagnosed by the possession of lamellate, apically divergent parempodia—a distinctive morphological trait of the pretarsus. Multiple tribes are recognized, including Orthotylini, Halticini, Ceratocapsini, Coridromiini, Nichomachini, and Austromirini.
Orthotylus flavosparsus
Orthotylus flavosparsus is a small plant-feeding mirid bug native to Europe, where it occurs widely except in Albania and Iceland. The species has been introduced to North America and has established populations there. Adults are approximately 4 mm in length and green in coloration. It is associated with oraches (Atriplex) and chenopods (Chenopodium), which serve as its primary host plants.
Orthotylus virescens
Orthotylus virescens is a small green plant bug in the family Miridae. It has been documented feeding on Cytisus scoparius (common broom). A 1964 study using radioactive phosphorus-32 tracers demonstrated that this species exhibits density-dependent dispersal behavior, with movement patterns influenced by wind direction and habitat edges.
Osbornellus
Osbornellus is a genus of leafhoppers in the family Cicadellidae, containing at least 100 described species. The genus is divided into four subgenera, with the nominate subgenus Osbornellus (s. str.) distributed primarily in the Nearctic and Neotropical realms. Some species have been introduced to the Palearctic region through human activity, with the first European records documented in Switzerland in 2016. Species in this genus are generally small, active insects that feed on plant sap.
Pachypsylla celtidisumbilicus
Hackberry Disc Gall Psyllid
Pachypsylla celtidisumbilicus is a species of hackberry psyllid that produces distinctive disc-shaped galls on hackberry leaves (Celtis spp.). Adults emerge in fall and seek shelter to overwinter, often becoming household nuisances when they congregate on building exteriors. The species is one of at least seven Pachypsylla species associated with hackberry in North America, each producing a characteristic gall morphology.
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Short-faced Scorpionflies
Panorpodidae is a small family of scorpionflies containing 13 extant species in two genera. Brachypanorpa is restricted to the eastern and central United States, while Panorpodes occurs in East Asia (Japan, Korea) with one species in California. The family is distinguished from its sister group Panorpidae by notably short jaws, among the shortest of all mecopterans. Larvae possess smooth, glabrous mandibles without molar surfaces, indicating a diet distinct from the carrion-feeding larvae of related families.
Parectopa
A genus of small moths in the family Gracillariidae. Species are leaf miners, with larvae feeding internally on host plant foliage. The genus includes approximately 40 described species distributed across multiple continents. Several species have become invasive pests, notably Parectopa robiniella on black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) in Europe.
Parydra
Parydra is a genus of shore flies (Diptera: Ephydridae) comprising at least 70 described species. Species in this genus are associated with wet, muddy habitats, particularly the vegetated margins of ponds, marshes, and slow-moving water bodies. Larval development occurs in saturated substrates where larvae feed on algae and decaying organic matter. Adults are typically found near larval habitats and are most active during warmer months.
Peltophorus
Peltophorus is a genus of weevils in the family Curculionidae (subfamily Baridinae, tribe Zygopini). The genus contains multiple species distributed in Mexico, including P. polymitus and P. adustus. Species in this genus are associated with succulent plants, particularly agaves and Opuntia cacti. P. polymitus has been documented feeding on at least seven Agave species and has been recorded in wild agave plantations, though it has not been formally designated as an agricultural pest.
Penestragania
Penestragania is a genus of leafhoppers in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Iassinae, tribe Hyalojassini. The genus was established by Beamer & Lawson in 1945 and is native to North America. The species Penestragania apicalis has been recorded as invasive in Eastern Europe, where it was first detected in Donetsk, Ukraine in July 2020. Members of this genus are specialized phytophages associated with woody host plants.
Pentatominae
shield bugs, stink bugs
Pentatominae is the largest subfamily within Pentatomidae, comprising approximately 4,937 species in 938 genera. Members are commonly known as shield bugs or stink bugs due to their characteristic body shape and defensive secretions. The subfamily includes numerous agricultural pests and several invasive species that have become household pests in introduced ranges. Higher systematics of the group have been revised by Rider et al.
Periclistus
Periclistus is a genus of micro-hymenopteran gall wasps (Cynipidae) comprising at least 17 described species. These wasps are obligate inquilines that occupy galls induced by other cynipid genera on plants in the rose family (Rosaceae), particularly roses (Rosa). Unlike gall inducers, Periclistus species have lost the ability to initiate galls but retain the capacity to modify existing gall tissue, inducing nutritive tissue for their own larvae. The genus exhibits a phylogenetic divide between Palaearctic and Nearctic clades, with host specificity ranging from specialists to generalists across different species.
Persis arizonensis
Persis arizonensis is a derbid planthopper in the family Derbidae, order Hemiptera. It is a small, presumably phytophagous insect known from limited records in Arizona and Sonora, Mexico. The species was described in 1986 and remains poorly documented in published literature.
Phycitodes
Phycitodes is a genus of snout moths in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae, established by George Hampson in 1917. The genus contains approximately 18 described species distributed across the Palearctic and Nearctic regions. At least one species, Phycitodes subcretacella, has been documented feeding on the invasive weed Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed), suggesting potential ecological significance in biological control contexts.
Phylinae
phyline plant bugs
Phylinae is a large subfamily of plant bugs (Miridae) comprising approximately 400 genera and over 2000 species worldwide. The subfamily underwent significant taxonomic revision in 2013, reorganizing tribal classifications and establishing nine currently recognized tribes. Members exhibit diverse host plant associations, with many species specialized on particular plant families. The subfamily includes economically significant species, some of which are predators while others are phytophagous.
Phyllobrotica
skeletonizing leaf beetles, flea beetles
Phyllobrotica is a genus of leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae, containing at least 18 described species in North America. Members are small, often brightly colored beetles known as skeletonizing leaf beetles and flea beetles. Most North American species are extreme host specialists, feeding almost exclusively on plants in the mint family (Lamiaceae), particularly genera Scutellaria and Stachys. One species, P. physostegiae, has been documented on Physostegia, representing an unusual host transfer to a related mint family genus in dry prairie habitats.
Phytocoris cercocarpi
Phytocoris cercocarpi is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, described by Knight in 1928. The species epithet 'cercocarpi' indicates an association with Cercocarpus (mountain mahogany), a genus of woody shrubs in the Rosaceae family. This species is part of the large and diverse genus Phytocoris, which contains numerous plant-feeding mirid bugs.
Phytocoris junipericola
Phytocoris junipericola is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, described by Knight in 1927. The specific epithet 'junipericola' suggests an association with juniper (Juniperus), indicating this species likely inhabits or feeds on juniper plants. It is found in North America, with documented records from the eastern United States including Indiana, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. Like other members of the genus Phytocoris, it is presumed to be primarily phytophagous, feeding on plant sap using piercing-sucking mouthparts.
Phytocoris pallidicornis
Phytocoris pallidicornis is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, a diverse group of true bugs characterized by their plant-feeding habits. The species was described by Reuter in 1876 and is known from North America. Like other members of the genus Phytocoris, it is likely primarily phytophagous, feeding on plant sap with piercing-sucking mouthparts. Specific biological details for this species remain limited in available sources.
Phytomyza glabricola
inkberry holly leafminer
Phytomyza glabricola is a leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae, endemic to the eastern United States. The species exhibits host-associated divergence on two sympatric holly species, Ilex glabra and I. coriacea, with populations on each host showing substantial genetic divergence and reproductive isolation. Development time differs dramatically between host races: 2-4 weeks with multiple generations per year on I. glabra versus 9-10 months with a single generation per year on I. coriacea. Despite these differences, adults from both hosts emerge synchronously in mid-January to mid-February. The species provides a well-documented case of ecological speciation via host shift.
Piesma
ash-grey leaf bugs
Piesma is a genus of small ash-grey leaf bugs in the family Piesmatidae, serving as the type genus of the family. Members are less than 4 mm in length and occur across North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. The genus is distinguished from the similar genus Parapiesma by a notch in the side margins of the pronotum. Species in this genus are primarily phytophagous and include economically significant pests such as Piesma quadratum, which transmits viral and rickettsia-like pathogens to sugar beet and related crops.
Piesmatidae
ash-grey leaf bugs, ash-gray leaf bugs
Piesmatidae is a small family of true bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) in the superfamily Lygaeoidea, commonly known as ash-grey leaf bugs. The family contains three extant subfamilies and eleven genera, with over 40 described species. Members are small phytophagous insects, typically 2–4 mm in length, characterized by a distinctive reticulate or dimpled pattern on the head, thorax, and corium of the hemelytra. This dimpled texture represents convergent evolution with the lace bugs (Tingidae) of the infraorder Cimicomorpha. The family has a predominantly temperate Northern Hemisphere distribution, with additional occurrences in Africa, Australia, and South America.
Piezogaster calcarator
leaf-footed bug
Piezogaster calcarator is a species of leaf-footed bug in the family Coreidae, first described by Fabricius in 1803. A taxonomic revision resurrected P. alternatus (Say) from synonymy under P. calcarator, clarifying that these are distinct species with overlapping ranges in the United States and Mexico. The species is found in North America, where it has been observed congregating on inflorescences of Verbesina alternifolia (yellow ironweed) in dry-mesic loess woodland habitats.
Pilophorus walshii
Pilophorus walshii is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, first described by Uhler in 1887. The species is known from eastern North America, with records from Georgia, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. It has been documented feeding on Honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) foliage. The species has been the subject of life history studies combining field observations with laboratory rearing.
Pinalitus
Pinalitus is a genus of plant bugs in the family Miridae, established by Kelton in 1955. The genus contains approximately six described species. At least one species, Pinalitus atomarius, is known to be phytophagous and associated with conifers, particularly silver fir (Abies alba).
Pissodes striatulus
Balsam Bark Weevil
Pissodes striatulus, known as the balsam bark weevil, is a species of true weevil in the family Curculionidae. It occurs in North America, with records from multiple Canadian provinces including Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and New Brunswick. The species is associated with coniferous hosts, particularly balsam fir (Abies balsamea), though specific ecological details remain limited in published sources.
Pithanus maerkelii
Pithanus maerkelii is a plant bug in the family Miridae. It is native to Europe and the Palearctic, with an introduced population in North America. The species feeds on grasses, sedges, and rushes, using piercing-sucking mouthparts to extract fluids from stems and reproductive structures.
Plagiognathus
Plagiognathus is a large genus of plant bugs in the family Miridae, comprising over 120 described species. Members are commonly known as jumping tree bugs or plant bugs. The genus exhibits diverse host associations with various flowering plants, including agricultural crops and endemic wild species. Individual species show specialized relationships with particular host plants, though broader patterns across the genus remain incompletely documented.
Polymerus opacus
Polymerus opacus is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, described by Knight in 1923. It is recorded from northeastern North America, with specific observations from Vermont and other parts of the United States. As a member of the plant bug family, it belongs to a diverse group of phytophagous true bugs, though detailed biological information for this particular species remains limited.
Pseudacysta
avocado lace bug
Pseudacysta is a monotypic genus of lace bugs (family Tingidae) containing a single described species, P. perseae. The genus is notable for its specialized association with avocado as a host plant. The sole species is a significant agricultural pest causing foliar damage to avocado crops and has undergone substantial range expansion across the Americas.
Pseudophloeinae
leaf-footed bugs
Pseudophloeinae is a subfamily of leaf-footed bugs (family Coreidae) containing at least 100 described species across approximately 20 genera. The subfamily is divided into two tribes: Clavigrallini (Africa, Middle East, Asia, Australia) and Pseudophloeini (worldwide). Members are phytophagous true bugs with diverse morphologies. The subfamily has been subject to recent taxonomic revision, including work on the genus Vilga in the Neotropics.
Psilidae
rust flies
Psilidae is a family of small to medium-sized flies commonly called rust flies, with at least 38 species in four genera. The family is well represented in temperate zones and is found mainly in the Holarctic region. The carrot fly (Chamaepsila rosae) is the most economically significant member, a major agricultural pest of carrots and related crops. Larvae are phytophagous, feeding in stems, tubers, or roots of nonwoody plants.
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.
Pyrota lineata
Yellow-lined Pyrota
Pyrota lineata is a blister beetle in the family Meloidae, tribe Pyrotini. It is characterized by yellow longitudinal stripes on dark elytra and is found in western North America. The species is documented in museum collections and has been observed in multiple localities. Like other Pyrota species, it exhibits the typical meloid soft-bodied form and elytra that do not fully cover the abdomen.
Rhagoletis
fruit flies
Rhagoletis is a genus of tephritid fruit flies comprising approximately 70–100 species. The genus name derives from Ancient Greek *rhago* (a kind of spider), possibly referencing the jumping spider mimicry observed in at least *R. pomonella*. Species are primarily phytophagous, with larvae developing in fruits of specific host plants. Several species are significant agricultural pests, including the apple maggot (*R. pomonella*), blueberry maggot (*R. mendax*), and cherry fruit flies (*R. cingulata*, *R. cerasi*). The genus exhibits strong host specialization, with females showing preference for ovipositing in the host fruit where they developed.
Rhinacloa
plant bugs
Rhinacloa is a genus of plant bugs in the family Miridae, established by Reuter in 1876. The genus comprises more than 30 described species distributed primarily in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. Some species exhibit facultative predatory behavior on soft-bodied arthropods, while others are strictly phytophagous. One species, R. callicrates, was introduced to Australia as a biological control agent for the invasive weed Parkinsonia aculeata.
Rhopalidae
Scentless Plant Bugs
Rhopalidae, commonly known as scentless plant bugs, is a family of true bugs in the order Hemiptera. The family comprises approximately 30 genera and over 240 species worldwide. Members are distinguished from related coreids by the absence of well-developed scent glands, and from similar lygaeids by the numerous veins in the hemelytral membrane. Most species feed on plants, with some exhibiting host specificity on particular plant families. The family includes several species that aggregate in large numbers and occasionally enter buildings, such as boxelder bugs (Boisea spp.) and red-shouldered bugs (Jadera haematoloma).
Ribautiana ulmi
Ribautiana ulmi is a typhlocybine leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, first described by Linnaeus in 1758. It is associated with elm trees (Ulmus), particularly wych elm (Ulmus glabra). Research has documented its distribution patterns within tree canopies, showing preference for more illuminated areas and basal leaves of branches. The species feeds selectively on palisade mesophyll cells.
Scutelleridae
Jewel Bugs, Metallic Shield Bugs, Shield-backed Bugs
Scutelleridae is a family of true bugs in the order Hemiptera, commonly known as jewel bugs or shield-backed bugs. Members are distinguished by a greatly enlarged scutellum that forms a continuous shield over the abdomen and wings, often displaying brilliant metallic or iridescent coloration. This family includes approximately 81 genera and over 450 species distributed worldwide, with notable genera including Eurygaster, Scutellera, and Solenosthedium. Several species are significant agricultural pests, particularly of cereal crops.
Scutellerinae
jewel bugs, metallic shield bugs, shield-backed bugs
Scutellerinae is a subfamily of shield-backed bugs in the family Scutelleridae, erected by William Elford Leach in 1815. Members are characterized by an enlarged scutellum that forms a continuous shield over the abdomen and wings. The subfamily includes two tribes: Scutellerini and Sphaerocorini. Some species are agricultural pests of small grains, while others are associated with coniferous hosts.
Semanotus
Semanotus is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) described by Étienne Mulsant in 1839. Species within this genus are primarily wood-boring pests of coniferous trees, with documented associations including juniper, fir, cedar, cryptomeria, and cypress. Several species cause significant economic damage to timber and ornamental plantings. The genus has a broad distribution spanning North America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, with at least 19 recognized species.
Stenomacra
bordered plant bugs
Stenomacra is a genus of bordered plant bugs in the family Largidae, established by Stål in 1870. The genus contains at least eight described species distributed primarily in the Americas, with records from the southwestern United States through Central America to South America, including Ecuador and Panama. Species in this genus are associated with vegetation, particularly flowering plants, and have been observed feeding on plant sap and honeydew. Some species have been studied for their mating behavior and ecological roles in agroecosystems.