Populus-pest
Guides
Chrysomela scripta
cottonwood leaf beetle
Chrysomela scripta, the cottonwood leaf beetle, is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae that feeds on Populus species, particularly cottonwoods and hybrid poplars. It is native to North and Central America and has been documented as a significant pest of poplar plantations. The species completes multiple generations per year in temperate regions, with development strongly influenced by temperature. It is subject to biological control by predators and parasitoids, and serves as host to the microsporidian parasite Nosema scripta.
Proleucoptera
Proleucoptera is a genus of microlepidoptera in the family Lyonetiidae, established by Busck in 1902. Species in this genus are leaf-mining moths with extremely small wingspans, often under 5 mm. The genus is currently treated as a synonym of Leucoptera, though it was historically recognized as distinct. Members are known for mining leaves of host plants, with some species reaching densities sufficient to cause noticeable defoliation.