Rhus
Guides
Aculops rhois
Poison Ivy Gall Mite, Poison Ivy Leaf Mite
Aculops rhois is an eriophyid mite species found in North America that induces distinctive galls on poison ivy and related plants. The species forms small red pouch galls on the upper leaf surfaces of its hosts, which include Toxicodendron species and some Rhus species such as fragrant sumac. The bright coloration of these galls makes the mite more conspicuous than many related Aculops species, contributing to its relatively frequent reporting despite limited formal study.
Caloptilia undescribed-rhus
An undescribed species in the genus Caloptilia, recognized as a leaf blotch miner moth associated with Rhus (sumac) host plants. As a member of the Gracillariidae family, it exhibits the characteristic larval behavior of creating blotch mines within leaf tissue. The species remains formally undescribed in scientific literature, known primarily from observations and informal documentation.
Melaphis rhois
Staghorn sumac aphid, Sumac gall aphid
Melaphis rhois is a woolly aphid that induces distinctive galls on sumac leaves (Rhus typhina and R. glabra). It was first described by Asa Fitch in 1866 and has a complex life cycle involving alternation between sumac and moss hosts. The species is part of a cryptic species complex; molecular and morphometric analyses have revealed at least three sympatric species in North America previously grouped under this name. It exhibits exceptionally low genetic diversity and pronounced population structure due to restricted gene flow among isolated galls.
Perdita rhois
Rhus Fairy Bee
Perdita rhois is a species of mining bee in the family Andrenidae, described by Cockerell in 1901. It is commonly known as the Rhus Fairy Bee, a name referencing its association with Rhus (sumac) plants. The species occurs in Central America and North America, where it functions as a pollinator. As a member of the genus Perdita, it belongs to one of the most diverse bee genera in North America, characterized by small size and often specialized host-plant relationships.
Stigmella intermedia
pygmy leaf-mining moth
Stigmella intermedia is a minute pygmy moth in the family Nepticulidae, characterized by a wingspan of only 3–3.5 mm. The species is known from the Nearctic region, with records from Ohio, Arkansas, Kentucky, Ontario, and Vermont. It is a specialist leafminer whose larvae feed on sumac species (Rhus typhina and Rhus aromatica), creating distinctive linear mines with broad blackish frass lines. The species typically produces two generations per year, with larvae maturing in July and overwintering, though occasionally a third generation occurs.
Stigmella undescribed-species-on-rhus-aromatica
This is a putative undescribed species in the genus Stigmella, family Nepticulidae, associated with the host plant Rhus aromatica (fragrant sumac). No formal description exists in the scientific literature. The species has been proposed based on host association with this sumac species, but remains unconfirmed pending taxonomic study.