Robinia
Guides
Agrilus egenus
Bronze-fronted Locust Agrilus
Agrilus egenus is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Gory in 1841. This species is found in North America, with confirmed records from Canada (Ontario, Québec) and the United States. It belongs to the large genus Agrilus, which contains numerous species associated with woody plants. The species has been collected from Robinia neomexicana (New Mexican locust) in the Chiricahua Mountains of Arizona.
Amblycerus robiniae
Locust Seed Beetle
Amblycerus robiniae is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, commonly known as the locust seed beetle. The species is distributed across North America, with records from Canada (Alberta, Ontario) and the United States (Vermont). As a member of the genus Amblycerus, it is associated with leguminous host plants, particularly species in the genus Robinia.
Chrysaster ostensackenella
A small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, native to eastern North America and recently established as an invasive pest in East Asia, Europe, and Russia. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 4–5 mm. Larvae feed exclusively on Robinia species, creating distinctive blotch mines on leaves. The species has spread rapidly through human-mediated transport of host plants and is expected to expand further in regions where black locust is planted.
Euura tibialis
Locust Sawfly, False Acacia Sawfly
Euura tibialis is a nematine sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae, commonly known as the locust sawfly or false acacia sawfly. The species is associated with false acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia) as its host plant and has been recorded from Korea, Canada, and parts of Europe including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. It is one of numerous Euura species that specialize on particular host plants in the genus Robinia and related legumes.
Heliomata cycladata
common spring moth
Heliomata cycladata is a small geometrid moth known as the common spring moth, first described in 1866. It occurs across eastern North America from southern Canada through the eastern United States. Adults fly in spring and early summer, with larvae specializing on two leguminous tree hosts.
Macrosaccus neomexicanus
Macrosaccus neomexicanus is a minute leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, described by Davis in 2011. The species is endemic to the southwestern United States, where it is known from Arizona and New Mexico. Its larvae are specialized feeders on New Mexico locust (Robinia neomexicana), creating distinctive tentiform leaf mines. The specific epithet references its host plant rather than its geographic distribution.
Macrosaccus robiniella
Black Locust Leafminer
A small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, native to North America and invasive in Europe since 1983. Adults have a wingspan of 5.5–6.5 mm. Larvae are highly specialized miners of black locust (Robinia) leaves, producing distinctive blotch mines. Recent research has documented unexpected behavioral plasticity, with larvae capable of producing four distinct mine types that vary in position and appearance.
Megacyllene snowi
Megacyllene snowi is a species of longhorn beetle in the tribe Clytini, described by Casey in 1912. It belongs to a genus of North American beetles characterized by bold yellow and black banding patterns that resemble wasps. Records indicate it occurs in the southwestern United States and Mexico, with specific observations from the east side of the Chiricahua Mountains in Arizona.
Megacyllene snowi snowi
Megacyllene snowi snowi is a subspecies of longhorn beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It belongs to the genus Megacyllene, which includes several North American species with documented associations with leguminous host plants. The nominate subspecies was described by Tyson in 1982. Members of the species Megacyllene snowi are known to utilize Robinia (locust) as a larval host, placing them among the majority of Nearctic Megacyllene species with established Fabaceae associations.
Obolodiplosis robiniae
locust gall midge, black locust gall midge
Obolodiplosis robiniae is a small gall midge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) native to eastern North America that has become a significant invasive pest in Eurasia. The species is monophagous on Robinia species, particularly black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), forming distinctive leaf margin roll galls through gregarious larval feeding. First described from Pennsylvania in 1847, it was detected in Asia in 2002-2003 (Japan, Korea) and Europe in 2003 (Italy), subsequently spreading explosively to 26 European countries and much of China. Climate modeling predicts substantial northward range expansion under warming scenarios, with suitable habitat potentially increasing by 35% by 2070. The midge reduces host tree growth and productivity, causes early leaf abscission, and facilitates secondary pest attacks by wood-boring beetles.
Odontota
locust leaf miners
Odontota is a genus of leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae, comprising approximately eight to nine described species. The genus includes notable agricultural and forestry pests, particularly species that mine leaves of leguminous trees. The most well-known species, Odontota dorsalis (locust leaf miner), feeds on black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) and related species, causing distinctive "scorched" foliage damage. Several species have been documented with specialized behaviors including extended copulation and post-copulatory mate guarding.
Odontota dorsalis
locust leaf miner, locust leafminer
Odontota dorsalis, commonly known as the locust leaf miner, is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is native to North America and feeds primarily on black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) and related species in the Fabaceae family. The beetle is known for producing distinctive 'scorched' damage on host trees, caused by both adult skeletonization and larval leaf mining. Two generations occur annually in most of its range.
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.
Parectopa robiniella
Locust Digitate Leafminer, Locust Digitate Leafminer Moth
Parectopa robiniella is a small gracillariid moth native to North America that has become invasive in Europe. First detected in Italy in 1970, it has since spread to at least ten European countries including Ukraine, where it was first recorded in 2003. The species is a specialist leaf miner whose larvae feed on Robinia species, particularly the black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia). Its spread has been facilitated by global warming and the widespread planting of its host tree.
Plagiostira albonotata
white-marked shieldback
Plagiostira albonotata, commonly known as the white-marked shieldback, is a species of shield-backed katydid in the family Tettigoniidae. It is a large, robust katydid found in arid regions of the southwestern United States. The species is characterized by distinctive white markings on its body. Observations indicate activity during summer months in desert and semi-desert habitats.
shield-backed-katydidOrthopteraTettigoniidaedesertsouthwestern-United-Statesnocturnalbrachypterouskatydidinsectarid-habitatyucca-associationsummer-activitywhite-markingslarge-body-sizePlagiostiriniTettigoniinaeNew-MexicoArizonaUtahwest-Texassand-dunesdesert-scrubcrepuscularlimited-flightScudder-1876Plagiostira-albonotatawhite-marked-shieldbackEnsiferaTettigoniideaTettigonioideaHexapodaArthropodaInsectaAnimaliaEukaryotaMetazoagrasshoppers,-crickets-&-katydidsPlagiostira28-observationsiNaturalistGBIFCatalogue-of-LifeNCBI-TaxonomyWikipediaBeetles-In-The-Bush2018-New-Mexico/Texas-Insect-Collecting-TripTed-C.-MacRaeJeff-HuetherJune-2–9,-2018southeastern-New-MexicoMescalero-Sand-DunesKermit,-TexasHwy-380San-AntonioBinghamSandia-MountainsWalking-Sands-Rest-AreaValley-of-Fire-National-Recreation-AreaSierra-Blanca-MountainsSunset,-New-MexicoHobbs,-New-MexicoKermit-Sand-DunesI-10-Rest-AreaFabens,-TexasCarlsbad,-New-MexicoLoco-Hills,-New-MexicoCarrizozo,-New-MexicoBingham,-New-MexicoSocorro,-New-MexicoThe-BoxyuccaProsopis-glandulosamesquiteOpuntia-imbricatachollaJuniperus-monospermajuniperSapindus-drummondiisoapberryAcacia-greggiicatclaw-acaciaAcacia-rigidablack-acaciaThelespermaDaleaPenstemonRobiniaCeltisGaillardiaOenetheraBaccharisSphaeralceaEphedraCacamacactus-dodger-cicadaTragidion-armatumPrionus-arenariusPrionus-palparisPrionus-integerPolyphyllaMoneilemacactus-beetleGyascutusAcmaeoderaChrysobothrisAgrilusEnoclerusActenodesParatyndarisAcmaeoderopsisBrachysNeoclytusCleridaeCerambycidaeBuprestidaeScarabaeidaeCarabidaeTenebrionidaeMeloidaeCoreidaePompilidaetarantula-hawkCicindelidaeCylindera-lemniscatatiger-beetleLycaenidaeBrephidium-exiliswestern-pygmy-blueEchinargus-isolaReakirt's-blueshieldbackdesert-insectnocturnal-insectbrachypterous-insectsummer-insectarid-land-insectyucca-associated-insectNew-Mexico-insectArizona-insectUtah-insectTexas-insectsouthwestern-US-insectNorth-American-insectNearctic-insectTettigoniidae-insectOrthoptera-insectEnsifera-insectTettigoniinae-insectPlagiostirini-insectPlagiostira-insectP.-albonotatawhite-marked-shieldback-katydidgiant-katydidlarge-katydiddesert-katydidsand-dune-katydidyucca-katydidnocturnal-katydidbrachypterous-katydidsummer-katydidScudder's-katydid1876-katydidOrthopterankatydid-speciesshieldback-speciesTettigoniidae-speciesPlagiostira-speciesdesert-speciesarid-speciesnocturnal-speciesbrachypterous-speciessummer-speciesNew-Mexico-speciesArizona-speciesUtah-speciesTexas-speciessouthwestern-US-speciesNorth-American-speciesNearctic-speciesSciota subcaesiella
Locust Leafroller Moth
Sciota subcaesiella, commonly known as the locust leafroller moth, is a species of pyralid moth found across eastern and central North America. The larvae feed on various Robinia species, particularly black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) and related locust trees. The species is recognized as a leafroller, with larvae that roll or fold leaves to create sheltered feeding sites.
Sinoe robiniella
Sinoe robiniella is a small gelechiid moth native to eastern North America. Adults are active from spring through late summer, with timing varying by latitude. The species is specialized on leguminous host plants, with larvae feeding on black locust and related species. It was originally described as Anacampsis robiniella by Asa Fitch in 1859.
Thelia
locust treehopper (referring to T. bimaculata)
Thelia is a genus of treehoppers (Hemiptera: Membracidae) comprising at least two described species, including Thelia bimaculata (locust treehopper) and Thelia uhleri. Members of this genus are associated with woody host plants, particularly leguminous trees in the genus Robinia. The genus was established by Amyot & Audinet-Serville in 1843 and is classified within the tribe Telamonini.
Vanduzea arquata
black locust treehopper
Vanduzea arquata, commonly known as the black locust treehopper, is a North American treehopper species in the family Membracidae. It is strongly associated with black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) and related Robinia species, with females laying eggs in tree buds. Nymphs have been documented using abandoned cavities of the locust twig borer. The species is attended by ants, including Formica subsericea, which tend the treehoppers for honeydew.