Ragweed
Guides
Euaresta bella
Common Ragweed Fruit Fly
Euaresta bella is a tephritid fruit fly species commonly known as the Common Ragweed Fruit Fly. It is specialized on Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed) as its sole known larval host plant. The species has a univoltine life cycle, producing one generation annually. It occurs in North America with documented records from the United States including Vermont.
Euaresta stigmatica
Euaresta stigmatica is a fruit fly species in the family Tephritidae. It is known from southern California, where it develops on ragweed plants (Ambrosia spp., Asteraceae). The species was described by Coquillett in 1902. Immature stages have been documented in detail.
Ophraella communa
ragweed leaf beetle
Ophraella communa is a small leaf beetle native to North America that has been introduced to Europe and Asia as a biological control agent for the invasive weed common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia). Adults and larvae feed on leaves and flowers of Asteraceae, with a strong preference for ragweed. The species has demonstrated rapid adaptive evolution of cold tolerance in newly colonized regions, facilitating northward expansion. Multiple mating is positively associated with fitness in this species, with females preferring larger males that confer reproductive advantages through seminal fluid proteins.
Schinia rivulosa
Ragweed Flower Moth
Schinia rivulosa, the ragweed flower moth, is a small noctuid moth found across much of North America. It is univoltine, with one generation per year, and is tightly associated with ragweed (Ambrosia) as a larval host. Adults are active from July to October and are often observed visiting flowers for nectar.