Root-borer
Guides
Agrilus hyperici
St. John's wort root borer
Agrilus hyperici is a jewel beetle (family Buprestidae) used as a biological control agent against the invasive weed Hypericum perforatum (common St. John's wort). Native to Europe, it was first introduced to the United States in 1950 and is now established in the northwestern United States and Australia. The species is notable for its root-boring larval stage that typically kills host plants.
Agrilus pulchellus
Beautiful Fleabane Root-borer
Agrilus pulchellus is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in Central America and North America, with records from the southwestern United States and Mexico. The species is associated with fleabane (Erigeron) as a host plant, as indicated by its common name. Like other Agrilus species, it is a wood-borer whose larvae develop in plant roots or stems.
Agrilus vittaticollis
Hawthorn Root Borer
Agrilus vittaticollis, commonly known as the hawthorn root borer, is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is one of several larger, more conspicuous Agrilus species characterized by a red pronotum and black elytra. The species develops in living rather than dead host plants, specifically in serviceberry (Amelanchier). It is found in North America but is not commonly encountered compared to many other Agrilus species.
Albuna pyramidalis
Fireweed Clearwing Moth
Albuna pyramidalis, commonly known as the fireweed clearwing moth, is a sesiid moth species native to North America. It belongs to the clearwing moth family Sesiidae, whose members are known for wasp-mimicking appearance and diurnal activity. The species is associated with fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium) as a larval host plant. It is assigned Hodges number 2533 in the North American moth numbering system.
Aneflus levettei
Aneflus levettei is a species of longhorn beetle (family Cerambycidae) in the tribe Elaphidiini, described by Thomas L. Casey in 1891. Larvae are root-feeders on velvetpod mimosa (Mimosa dysocarpa), with pupation occurring below the soil surface. Adults have been observed resting on foliage of Baccharis sarothroides (desert broom). The species occurs in the southwestern United States and Mexico.
Archodontes
Archodontes is a monotypic genus of root-boring beetles in the family Cerambycidae, containing the single species Archodontes melanopus. The genus is endemic to Central America and the south-eastern United States, where larvae bore into the roots of oaks and other hardwood trees. Adults are large, robust beetles with distinctive spiny thoracic margins and dark coloration.
Archodontes melanopus
Live-oak Root Borer
Archodontes melanopus is a large root-boring beetle in the family Cerambycidae, and the sole species in the genus Archodontes. Native to the southeastern United States and Central America, it bores into the roots of oaks and other hardwood trees. The species was originally described by Linnaeus in 1767 as Cerambyx melanopus. Adults are active during warmer months and are attracted to lights.
Carmenta bassiformis
Ironweed Clearwing Moth, Eupatorium Borer Moth
Carmenta bassiformis is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, first described by Francis Walker in 1856. It is native to the eastern and central United States, where adults are active from late spring through early autumn. The species is notable for its transparent wings and wasp-mimicking appearance, a common trait among sesiid moths. Larvae develop as root borers in specific host plants.
Carmenta corni
aster borer moth
Carmenta corni, the aster borer moth, is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae. First described by Henry Edwards in 1881, it occurs in North America including Wisconsin. Adults are active from July to August. The species is known to have larvae that feed on roots of specific host plants.
Carmenta giliae
Carmenta giliae is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, described by Henry Edwards in 1881. It occurs in montane meadows of western North America, from Alberta and British Columbia south to Arizona and New Mexico. The species has a wingspan of approximately 25 mm. Larvae are root borers in wild Geranium species.
Carmenta mariona
Carmenta mariona is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, described by William Beutenmüller in 1900. The species occurs in the western and central United States, with adults active during summer months. Larvae are root-feeding specialists on plants in the family Boraginaceae.
Carmenta pyralidiformis
Boneset Borer, Boneset Borer Moth
Carmenta pyralidiformis, commonly known as the boneset borer, is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae. First described by Francis Walker in 1856, this species occurs in the eastern and midwestern United States. The larvae are specialized root borers of Eupatorium species. Adults are active during daylight hours, a trait common among clearwing moths that mimic wasps or hornets.
Chamaesphecia
Chamaesphecia is a genus of clearwing moths (Sesiidae) established by Spuler in 1910, containing over 80 species distributed primarily across the Palearctic region. Species are characterized by their wasp-mimicking appearance and specialized larval associations with host plants, particularly in the families Euphorbiaceae and Lamiaceae. Several species have been investigated for biological control of invasive weeds, including leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) and horehound (Marrubium vulgare). The genus is divided into two subgenera: Chamaesphecia and Scopulosphecia.
Chrysobothris nelsoni
Chrysobothris nelsoni is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Westcott & Alten in 2006. The species is known from sand dune habitats in southern Utah and northern Arizona, where it is associated with Eriogonum alatum (winged buckwheat) as its larval host plant. Adults are bright metallic green and have been observed resting on the basal rosette of leaves of their host plant during daylight hours. The species appears to have a relatively narrow seasonal activity period, with most records from late May through June.
Comadia suaedivora
Comadia suaedivora is a small cossid moth described in 1973 from California. Males have forewings 12–16 mm long, females 12–17 mm. The species is active from April to June. It belongs to a genus whose larvae are root borers in desert plants.
Crossidius
Crossidius is a genus of longhorned beetles (Cerambycidae) endemic to western North America, containing 11 described species and numerous subspecies. The genus exhibits exceptional polytopic variation, with geographically isolated populations showing marked differences in coloration, size, and elytral pattern. Unlike most cerambycids, which develop in dead wood, Crossidius species are root borers in living perennial shrubs of the Asteraceae family. Adults are diurnal and strongly associated with host plant flowers, where they feed, mate, and shelter.
Crossidius coralinus
Red and Black Long-horned Beetle
Crossidius coralinus is a strikingly colored longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, described by LeConte in 1862. Adults emerge in late August and September to feed and mate on yellow flowers of their larval host plant, gray rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa). The species exhibits extensive geographic variation in coloration and size, with numerous described subspecies and locally distinct populations across western North America. Some populations display bright red and black coloration, while others are orange and black.
Crossidius coralinus coralinus
Crossidius coralinus coralinus is the nominate subspecies of a striking longhorned beetle endemic to western North America. Adults are active during late August and September, when they congregate on yellow flowers of their larval host plant, Ericameria nauseosa (gray rabbitbrush). The nominate subspecies is characterized by relatively large body size and extensive black markings on the elytra, particularly in females. It occurs in the southwestern Colorado region near Cortez, where some individuals exceed 20 mm in length.
Crossidius coralinus fulgidus
rabbitbrush longhorned beetle
Crossidius coralinus fulgidus is a strikingly colored subspecies of longhorned beetle (Cerambycidae) endemic to the western United States. Adults are active in fall rather than spring or summer, a seasonal pattern unusual for the family. They are intimately associated with rabbitbrush and related composite shrubs, where adults feed, mate, and shelter among the yellow flowers. Males possess exceptionally long antennae relative to females. This subspecies exhibits the bright red and black coloration characteristic of the C. coralinus complex.
Crossidius discoideus
Orange-bracketed Longhorned Beetle
Crossidius discoideus is a species of longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, described by Thomas Say in 1824. Adults are notable for their striking orange-and-black coloration, which closely mimics that of toxic soldier beetles (Chauliognathus spp.) and blister beetles (Epicauta spp.) through Batesian mimicry. The species is strongly associated with flowers of Gutierrezia sarothrae (broom snakeweed), where adults feed on pollen and nectar. Larvae develop in the root crowns of broom snakeweed and related Isocoma species (Jimmyweed).
Crossidius discoideus blandi
Crossidius discoideus blandi is a subspecies of longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae. Adults exhibit Batesian mimicry, resembling toxic soldier beetles (Chauliognathus spp.) and blister beetles (Epicauta spp.) with their black and orange coloration. The species is associated with flowers of Gutierrezia sarothrae (broom snakeweed), where adults feed on pollen and nectar. Larvae bore in the root crowns of the host plant. This subspecies is part of a broader mimicry complex involving multiple beetle families in western North American habitats.
Crossidius discoideus sayi
Crossidius discoideus sayi is a subspecies of longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, native to western North America. It is recognized as a Batesian mimic of toxic soldier beetles (Chauliognathus spp.), sharing their characteristic orange and black color pattern despite being harmless itself. Adults are active in late summer and early fall, feeding on flower pollen and nectar, particularly from Gutierrezia sarothrae (broom snakeweed). The larvae develop as root-crown borers in their host plants.
Crossidius grahami
Ohoopee Dunes Crossidius Beetle
Crossidius grahami is a longhorned beetle (Cerambycidae) described in 2013 from southern Georgia. It is restricted to a highly specific host plant, woody goldenrod (Chrysoma pauciflosculosa), a perennial asteraceous shrub of coastal sand dunes and scrub. The species was discovered incidentally when collectors reared adults from root crowns while attempting to rear a different undescribed cerambycid. Adults are found primarily on lower stems of living plants.
Crossidius humeralis
Crossidius humeralis is a species of longhorn beetle in the family Cerambycidae, first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1858. It belongs to a diverse, exclusively western North American genus whose members are intimately associated with flowering shrubs in the Asteraceae family. Like other Crossidius species, adults are diurnal and strongly tied to their host plants for feeding and reproduction.
Crossidius pulchellus
Beautiful Longhorned Beetle
Crossidius pulchellus is a longhorned beetle (family Cerambycidae) first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1861. Unlike most cerambycids that develop in dead wood, this species has evolved a root-boring lifestyle in living perennial shrubs of the family Asteraceae. Adults are strongly associated with flowers of their host plants, where they feed, mate, and shelter. The species exhibits the dense vestiture (hair covering) characteristic of the genus and shows geographic variation across its range in the Great Plains and southern Rocky Mountains.
Crossidius testaceus
Crossidius testaceus is a long-horned beetle in the family Cerambycidae. The species occurs in western North America and Central America. Like other members of its genus, it develops as larvae in living roots of perennial shrubs in the Asteraceae family. Two subspecies are recognized: C. t. testaceus and C. t. maculicollis.
Cylindrocopturus eatoni
pine reproduction weevil
A weevil species in the family Curculionidae, commonly known as the pine reproduction weevil. Adults are black with dense grayish scales and are capable fliers, though they frequently hop when disturbed. The species is a documented pest of young ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) and Jeffrey pine (P. jeffreyi), attacking reproductive structures and bark. It has been observed in Oregon and is associated with coniferous forest habitats.
Derobrachus hovorei
Palo Verde Root Borer, Palo Verde Beetle, Palo Verde Borer Beetle
Derobrachus hovorei is a large longhorn beetle native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It was formally described as a distinct species by Santos-Silva in 2007, having been previously confused with D. geminatus for over a century. Adults are among the largest beetles in North America, reaching up to 3.5 inches in length. The species is named for its larval association with palo verde trees (Parkinsonia spp.), though it has been observed feeding on roots of various other tree species in urban environments.
Dichrorampha sedatana
Dingy Drill
Dichrorampha sedatana is a small tortricid moth with a wingspan of 12–16 mm. Adults are active from April to June, with one generation per year. The larvae are root feeders, specializing on Asteraceae hosts including Tanacetum vulgare and related species. The species is widespread across Europe and occupies rough meadows and wayside habitats.
Dichrorampha vancouverana
tanacetum root moth, Tansy Root Moth
Dichrorampha vancouverana is a small tortricid moth with a wingspan of 12–15 mm, found across most of Europe, the eastern Palearctic, and the Nearctic. Adults are active in June and July during afternoon and evening hours. The larvae are root-feeding specialists on tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) and yarrow (Achillea millefolium). The species inhabits dry grasslands, rough meadows, and scrub habitats.
Euhagena emphytiformis
Gaura Borer Moth
Euhagena emphytiformis is a North American clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, commonly known as the Gaura Borer Moth. It is one of two species in its genus on the continent and is notable for its convincing wasp mimicry. Adults have been observed in pheromone traps in glade habitats, and larvae develop in the roots of evening primrose family plants.
Euzophera magnolialis
magnolia root borer
Euzophera magnolialis is a snout moth described by Capps in 1964, restricted to the southern United States. Its common name, magnolia root borer, reflects its specialized larval habit of boring into the roots of Magnolia grandiflora. The species has a wingspan of 34–41 mm. It is one of approximately 50 species in the genus Euzophera, a group of small moths whose larvae typically feed internally in plant tissues.
Fumibotys fumalis
Mint Root Borer Moth
Fumibotys fumalis, the Mint Root Borer Moth, is the sole species in its genus. It belongs to the family Crambidae, a group of grass moths. The species is found across most of North America and is associated with mint plants. Its common name derives from the larval habit of boring into mint roots.
Gyascutus fulgidus
Gyascutus fulgidus is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, originally described by Barr in 1969. The species is native to western North America, particularly the Great Basin region. Based on genus-level characteristics, adults are known to possess a pale yellow-white waxy bloom on the elytra, which is believed to serve a thermoregulatory function in these desert-dwelling insects. The species has been collected on willow (Salix) in western Nevada.
Gyascutus planicosta
Gyascutus planicosta is a large metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. Adults reach up to 50 mm in length and display brilliant metallic coloration. The species occurs in the desert southwest of North America, with larvae developing in living roots of host plants rather than dead wood. Three subspecies are recognized, with G. p. obliteratus occurring in western Texas and southern New Mexico.
Hydraecia immanis
Hop Vine Borer Moth
A noctuid moth native to North America whose larvae are root pests of corn and hops. The species was described in 1852 and is listed as a species of special concern in Connecticut, where it is believed to be extirpated. It belongs to a genus of borers that target plant roots and stems.
Hylastinus
clover root borer (for H. obscurus)
A genus of crenulate bark beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) comprising approximately 11 described species. The genus is best known through Hylastinus obscurus, the clover root borer, which has been extensively studied due to its status as a major agricultural pest of red clover (Trifolium pratense). Members develop in roots of leguminous plants, with larvae creating short galleries in root tissues. The genus has a Palearctic native distribution but H. obscurus has been introduced to North and South America where it causes significant crop damage.
Hylobius transversovittatus
Purple Loosestrife Root Borer
A root-boring weevil native to Europe, Asia, northwest Africa, and parts of Australia. Adults and larvae feed exclusively on purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). Introduced to North America in 1992 as a classical biological control agent to manage invasive populations of its host plant in wetlands.
Lacon discoideus
Disk-shaped Click Beetle
A species of click beetle native to eastern North America. Adults are known to exhibit Batesian mimicry, resembling toxic soldier beetles (Chauliognathus spp.) with a black and orange color pattern despite being harmless themselves. The species is associated with flowers where it feeds on pollen and nectar.
Mecas
Mecas is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae: Lamiinae) in the tribe Saperdini, distributed in North America. Species in this genus are stem- and root-borers, with larvae developing internally within host plant tissues. Some species have been documented as pests of cultivated sunflowers, while others are associated with native Asteraceae and other plants. The genus contains approximately 18 described species across three subgenera.
Mecas bicallosa
Mecas bicallosa is a species of longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, first described by Martin in 1924. The species occurs in North and Central America. Like other members of the genus Mecas, it is associated with plants in the sunflower family (Asteraceae), where larvae bore into stems and roots.
Mecas pergrata
Mecas pergrata is a longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, described by Thomas Say in 1824. Adults are 6–12 mm in length with gray pubescence. The species is a stem- and root-borer that exploits plants in the sunflower family (Asteraceae), including cultivated sunflowers. It is known from Mexico and the United States.
Neomallodon arizonicus
Neomallodon arizonicus is a species of longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, subfamily Prioninae. Originally described by Casey in 1912 under a different name, it was later recognized as a distinct species by Skiles in 1978. The species is found in the southwestern United States and Mexico, with records from Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. It is among the larger species in the genus and is associated with oak woodland habitats, particularly Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii). Adults are attracted to prionic acid lures and exhibit distinctive searching behavior when attempting to locate pheromone sources.
Papaipema
Papaipema is a genus of moths in the family Noctuidae, erected by John B. Smith in 1899. The genus comprises approximately 50 described species, most of which are commonly known as "borers" due to their larval feeding habits. Species are distributed primarily across North America, with many exhibiting highly specialized host plant associations. Larvae tunnel into stems, roots, or rhizomes of specific native plants, making many species of conservation concern due to habitat loss and host plant rarity.
Papaipema cataphracta
burdock borer
Papaipema cataphracta, commonly known as the burdock borer, is a noctuid moth distributed across eastern and central North America. Adults are active in late summer and fall. The larvae are root and stem borers, feeding on burdock (Arctium), lilies (Lilium), and thistles.
Phymatopus
swift moths, ghost moths
Phymatopus is a genus of swift moths in the family Hepialidae, erected by Wallengren in 1869. The genus occurs across Eurasia and western North America, with species distinguished primarily by male genitalia morphology and forewing pattern variation. Members lack tibial spurs, proboscis, frenulum, and have very short antennae. The genus exhibits an unusual mating system where males release attractants to draw females, reversing the ancestral hepialid condition.
Phymatopus hectoides
Orange-Lined Ghost Moth
Phymatopus hectoides is a small ghost moth in the family Hepialidae, described by Boisduval in 1868. It occurs in the western United States, where adults are active in late spring and summer. The larvae are known to feed on a diverse range of host plants, boring into shoots and roots.
Plinthocoelium suaveolens plicatum
Bumelia Borer
Plinthocoelium suaveolens plicatum is the western subspecies of a striking longhorned beetle distributed from Texas west to New Mexico, Arizona, and northern Mexico. Distinguished from the nominate eastern subspecies by bronze or cupreous tints and weak transverse rugae on the pronotum, this beetle exhibits brilliant iridescent green coloration with contrasting orange and black legs. Larvae develop in the roots of living Sideroxylon lanuginosum (gum bumelia), with adults active during summer months. The subspecies intergrades with P. s. suaveolens in northeastern Texas.
Polyphylla
Lined June Beetles
Polyphylla is a genus of scarab beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Melolonthinae, containing approximately 50–85 species distributed across North America, Central America, southern and central Europe, northern Africa, and southern Asia. The genus is commonly known as "lined June beetles" due to the distinctive white elytral scales that form longitudinal stripes on most species. Adults are nocturnal and strongly attracted to lights, while larvae are root-feeders with extended development periods.
Prionus californicus
California root borer, California prionus
Prionus californicus is a large, sexually dimorphic longhorned beetle native to western North America. Adults emerge from soil in early summer and are active from June through August. Females are larger than males and produce a volatile sex pheromone to attract mates, while males possess more strongly serrated antennae. The species spends most of its life cycle underground as root-feeding larvae, making it a significant pest of orchards, vineyards, and other woody plants.
Prionus cuneatus
Prionus cuneatus is a species of longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, subfamily Prioninae. The species was described by Casey in 1924 and is currently considered a synonym of Prionus imbricornis in some taxonomic databases. Like other members of the genus Prionus, it is a root-boring beetle with subterranean larvae. The species belongs to a genus that has been the focus of recent collecting efforts in the Great Plains using synthetic prionic acid pheromone lures.
Prionus geminus
Prionus geminus is a longhorned beetle species in the subfamily Prioninae, described in 2016 from material collected in the Great Plains region of North America. It belongs to the subgenus Homaesthesis, a group of grassland-associated Prionus species whose biology remains poorly documented. The species is part of a genus whose larvae are subterranean root feeders, though specific host associations for P. geminus have not been established.
Prionus heroicus
Heroic prionus
Prionus heroicus is one of the largest long-horned beetles in North America, with males reaching substantial size. The species occurs in oak and pine-juniper woodlands of the southwestern United States and adjacent Mexico, with larvae developing underground as root-feeders. Adults are active during both day and night and are attracted to prionic acid lures, though males typically cannot locate the precise source and instead circle or search nearby. The species exhibits a defensive posture when disturbed, raising its anterior body off the ground.
Prionus laticollis
broad-necked root borer, broad necked prionus
Prionus laticollis, commonly known as the broad-necked root borer, is a large root-boring longhorn beetle native to eastern North America. The species is a significant economic pest of apple orchards, where larvae tunnel through roots causing structural damage to trees. Adults are primarily nocturnal, with males attracted to lights and females using an elongated ovipositor to deposit eggs in soil. The species exhibits strong sexual dimorphism, with females substantially larger than males. The life cycle spans 3-4 years, with larvae developing underground while feeding on tree roots.
Pterolonchidae
Pterolonchidae is a small family of minute moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea, comprising approximately 19 species across seven genera. The family has undergone substantial taxonomic revision, with genera reassigned from multiple other families based on cladistic analysis. Species are distributed across every continent except Australia and Antarctica, with notable concentrations in the Mediterranean region, western North America, and southern Africa. Several species have significant ecological and economic importance, including one used as a biological control agent for invasive knapweeds and another that is a major agricultural pest of cereal crops.
Sphenoptera jugoslavica
bronze knapweed root borer
Sphenoptera jugoslavica is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is monophagous on Centaurea diffusa (diffuse knapweed), forming spindle-shaped root galls in rosettes. The species is univoltine and was introduced to North America as a biological control agent for this invasive weed. Its effectiveness is limited by phenological requirements for arrested plant growth during oviposition.
Stenodontes chevrolati
Chevrolat's tropical long-horned beetle
Stenodontes chevrolati is a species of long-horned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, subfamily Prioninae. It is one of the largest cerambycid species in North America, with males reaching substantial size. The species occurs in the Caribbean and southern North America, where adults are attracted to lights and have been documented in oak woodland habitats. Larval development occurs in living oak trees, with adults emerging after several years of subterranean feeding on roots.
Sufetula
Sufetula is a pantropical genus of moths in the family Crambidae (subfamily Lathrotelinae), established by Walker in 1859. The genus contains at least 32 described species, including several that are economically significant pests of cultivated plants. Sufetula anania is a destructive root borer of pineapple (Ananas comosus) in Central America, causing damage that can destroy the root system. Sufetula culshawi, described in 2024, is a previously unrecognized species associated with cultivated palms (Areca Palm, Chrysalidocarpus lutescens), spread through horticultural trade. Larvae of at least some species are root-feeders that create tunnels within plant tissues.
Synanthedon polygoni
Buckwheat Root Borer Moth
A clearwing moth (family Sesiidae) whose larvae bore into the roots and crowns of buckwheat and related plants. Adults exhibit wasp-like mimicry with reduced wing scaling and are primarily diurnal. The species is found across western North America from the Great Plains to the Pacific.
Tetraopes pilosus
Pilose Milkweed Beetle
Tetraopes pilosus is a longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, described by Chemsak in 1963. It is a milkweed specialist restricted to Quaternary sandhills of the central and southern Great Plains. Adults are characterized by dense white pubescence and bright red-and-black aposematic coloration. The species is closely associated with sand milkweed (Asclepias arenaria), feeding on both foliage as adults and roots as larvae.
Tetraopes quinquemaculatus
five-spotted milkweed beetle
Tetraopes quinquemaculatus is a milkweed-associated longhorn beetle (Cerambycidae) described by Haldeman in 1847. It is native to North America and is one of several species in the genus Tetraopes that specialize on milkweeds (Asclepias). The species is considerably less common than the widespread T. tetrophthalmus and has been documented from sand prairie and dry sandy habitats in the Mississippi River Alluvial Basin. Adults are visually distinctive and larvae develop as root borers in living milkweed plants.
Tetraopes skillmani
Skillman's Milkweed Longhorn
Tetraopes skillmani is a longhorn beetle (Cerambycidae: Lamiinae) described in 2004 from Arizona. It belongs to the milkweed beetle genus Tetraopes, whose members are obligate specialists on Asclepiadaceae host plants. The type locality is near Duquesne in southeastern Arizona, where collectors found its host plant Sarcostemma sp. but did not encounter the beetles during the initial survey.
Triclonella pergandeella
sweetclover root borer moth, Bush-clover triclonella
Triclonella pergandeella is a small moth with a wingspan of approximately 14 mm, found in the southeastern and mid-Atlantic United States. Adults are active from March through October. The larvae are root borers that feed on Lespedeza and Clitoria species, reaching about 12 mm in length with a distinctive yellow head.
Vitacea
Grape Root Borer Moths
Vitacea is a genus of clearwing moths in the family Sesiidae, commonly known as grape root borer moths. The genus contains four recognized species, including Vitacea polistiformis, a significant agricultural pest of grape vineyards in the eastern United States. Adults are wasp mimics with reduced wing scaling that gives them a distinctive transparent appearance. Larvae are subterranean root borers that feed on grapevine roots, causing economically important damage to cultivated grapes.
Vitacea polistiformis
grape root borer, Grape Root Borer Moth
Vitacea polistiformis, commonly known as the grape root borer, is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae. It is a significant agricultural pest of grapevines (Vitis spp.) in the eastern and midwestern United States, where larval feeding on roots causes 'slow vine decline' that may take 5–10 years to become visible aboveground. Adults are Batesian mimics of Polistes paper wasps. As few as nine larvae can kill a mature vine with an 8-inch base circumference.
Vitacea scepsiformis
Lesser Grape Root Borer Moth
Vitacea scepsiformis, the lesser grape root borer moth, is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae. It occurs across eastern and central North America, where its larvae develop as root borers in grapevines (Vitis species). Adults are active from mid-summer through early autumn and are wasp mimics in appearance. The species is smaller than the related grape root borer (Vitacea polistiformis) and generally considered less economically damaging.
Walshia miscecolorella
Sweet Clover Root Borer Moth, sweetclover root borer moth
Walshia miscecolorella is a small moth in the family Cosmopterigidae, commonly known as the sweet clover root borer moth. It was described by V.T. Chambers in 1875. The species is notable for its broad North American distribution and year-round adult activity. Larvae feed on roots and lower stems of various leguminous plants and other species.
Xylocrius agassizi
Gooseberry Root Borer
Xylocrius agassizi is a species of longhorn beetle in the family Cerambycidae, first described by Hatch in 1971. It is currently treated as a synonym of Xylocrius agassizii in some taxonomic databases, though the original spelling agassizi is also in use. The species is known from western North America, with records from British Columbia, Canada and the United States. Its common name, Gooseberry Root Borer, suggests an association with Ribes (gooseberry/currant) plants as hosts.