Root-feeder
Guides
Neotibicen linnei
Linne's cicada
Neotibicen linnei is a large-bodied annual cicada native to the Eastern United States and Canada. Like other Neotibicen species, it spends multiple years underground as a nymph feeding on plant roots before emerging in mid- to late summer. Adults are known for their distinctive calling songs produced by vibrating tymbal membranes. The species is part of the annual cicada group, meaning adults emerge every year due to overlapping generations rather than synchronized mass emergences.
Noctuidae
owlet moths, cutworms, armyworms
Noctuidae is a large family of moths in the superfamily Noctuoidea, currently comprising approximately 1,089 genera and 11,772 species. The family is taxonomically unstable, having recently lost several subfamilies (Lymantriinae, Catocalinae, Calpinae) to the family Erebidae, making it now the second-largest family in Noctuoidea rather than the largest in Lepidoptera. Adults are predominantly nocturnal with cryptic brown, grey, or black coloration, though some tropical subfamilies exhibit bright coloration. Larvae are commonly known as cutworms or armyworms, with many species being significant agricultural pests.
Otiorhynchus
root weevils, vine weevils
Otiorhynchus is a large genus of flightless weevils containing over 1,500 species distributed across more than 110 subgenera. The genus is native to the Palearctic region, though sixteen species have become established in North America as introduced pests. Several species, notably the black vine weevil (O. sulcatus) and strawberry root weevil (O. ovatus), are economically significant agricultural pests. The genus exhibits unusual reproductive diversity, with many species containing both diploid bisexual and polyploid parthenogenetic populations.
Otiorhynchus ovatus
Strawberry Root Weevil
Otiorhynchus ovatus is a flightless weevil native to North America, occurring across Canada and the northern United States. The species reproduces exclusively through parthenogenesis—no males have ever been observed. Adults feed nocturnally on leaves and stems of host plants, while larvae feed on roots and crowns, causing significantly more damage. The species is a major agricultural pest of strawberries and other crops, with larvae capable of killing seedlings and young transplants.
Otiorhynchus singularis
Clay-coloured Weevil
Otiorhynchus singularis, the clay-coloured weevil, is a European native weevil that has been introduced to North America and the Azores. Adults feed on buds, shoots, and leaves of various woody plants, with documented damage to conifers, fruit bushes, and hops. The species is parthenogenetic, with females producing viable eggs without mating. It is primarily nocturnal and can be a significant pest in horticultural and forestry settings.
Pemphigus
Poplar Leaf-stem Gall Aphids
Pemphigus is a genus of gall-forming aphids in the family Aphididae, commonly known as poplar leaf-stem gall aphids. Species in this genus are specialized herbivores that induce distinctive galls on poplar (Populus) and related host plants. The genus is notable for its complex life cycles involving alternation between primary woody hosts and secondary herbaceous hosts, with some species remaining entirely on roots of secondary hosts. Pemphigus species are frequently confused with other root-feeding aphids in agricultural and horticultural contexts.
Pemphigus bursarius
lettuce root aphid, poplar gall aphid
Pemphigus bursarius is a host-alternating aphid with a heteroecious life cycle involving Populus species as primary hosts and Asteraceae (particularly lettuce) as secondary hosts. On poplars, it forms flask-shaped leaf-stalk galls in spring; on secondary hosts, it lives subterraneanly feeding on roots. The species exhibits unusual flexibility in its life cycle, with some populations capable of asexual overwintering in soil without returning to the primary host. It is an economically significant pest of lettuce crops and shows genetically distinct host-associated populations.
Phrydiuchus
Phrydiuchus is a genus of true weevils (Curculionidae) comprising at least two described species: P. tau and P. topiarius. Species in this genus are specialized herbivores associated with Salvia species (Lamiaceae), with documented use as biological control agents against invasive sage weeds. The genus is characterized by small, dark-colored weevils with distinctive dorsal markings.
Phrydiuchus tau
Mediterranean sage root weevil
Phrydiuchus tau is a small weevil in the family Curculionidae, commonly known as the Mediterranean sage root weevil. It is native to southern Eurasia and has been introduced to the western United States as a biological control agent targeting the invasive weed Mediterranean sage (Salvia aethiopis). The species derives its scientific name from the distinctive white T-shaped marking on its dorsal surface, resembling the Greek letter tau.
Phyllobius oblongus
Brown Leaf Weevil
Phyllobius oblongus is a European weevil species in the family Curculionidae that has been introduced to North America, with records dating to 1969. It inhabits northern hardwood forests and has been documented in association with sugar maple reproduction in Michigan. The species has a broad native distribution across Europe and western Russia.
Phyllophaga amplicornis
Phyllophaga amplicornis is a species of May beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Melolonthinae. The species was described by Gahan. As a member of the genus Phyllophaga, it is one of over 400 species in North America, making this genus one of the most speciose scarab groups in the region. Species in this genus are commonly known as May beetles or June beetles. The larvae are soil-dwelling white grubs that feed on plant roots, while adults feed on foliage and flowers.
Phyllophaga anxia
Forest-ogre June Beetle, Cranberry White Grub, Common June Beetle
Phyllophaga anxia is a large scarab beetle native to North America, commonly known as the forest-ogre June beetle or cranberry white grub. Adults are nocturnal fliers active primarily in May and June, with males attracted to light during pre-copulatory flights. The species is a significant agricultural pest, with larvae feeding on roots of various host plants and adults feeding on foliage. It serves as host for multiple parasitoids including the American pelecinid wasp Pelecinus polyturator and several mite species.
Phyllophaga apicata
Phyllophaga apicata is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Reinhard in 1939. It belongs to the genus Phyllophaga, commonly known as May beetles or June beetles, which contains over 400 species in North America. Like other members of this genus, it is likely a root-feeding beetle with subterranean larval development, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented in available literature.
Phyllophaga bipartita
Phyllophaga bipartita is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, commonly known as May beetles or June bugs. It belongs to a large and taxonomically challenging genus with over 400 species in North America. The species was first described by Horn in 1887 under the basionym Lachnosterna bipartita.
Phyllophaga blanda
May beetle, June beetle
Phyllophaga blanda is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, first described by Sanderson in 1958. It belongs to the genus Phyllophaga, commonly known as May beetles or June beetles, a diverse group of soil-dwelling scarabs whose larvae feed on plant roots. The species is known from the Nearctic region, with records from Arizona, USA. Like other members of its genus, it likely exhibits the typical Phyllophaga life cycle with subterranean larval stages and adult emergence in spring or early summer.
Phyllophaga hirtiventris
Phyllophaga hirtiventris is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It belongs to the genus Phyllophaga, commonly known as May beetles or June beetles, which contains over 400 species in North America. Like other members of this large genus, it is a soil-dwelling beetle with larvae that feed on plant roots. The specific epithet "hirtiventris" refers to hairy ventral characteristics. Species-level details for P. hirtiventris remain poorly documented in published literature.
Phyllophaga karlsioei
May beetle, June beetle
Phyllophaga karlsioei is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, one of over 400 species in the genus Phyllophaga found in North America. Like other May beetles, it is likely nocturnal with adults emerging in late spring to early summer. The genus is characterized by larvae that feed on plant roots in soil, earning them the common name 'white grubs.'
Phyllophaga longitarsa
May beetle, Junebug
Phyllophaga longitarsa is a species of scarab beetle in the genus Phyllophaga, commonly known as May beetles or Junebugs. The species was described by Thomas Say in 1824 and is native to North America. Like other members of the genus, it likely exhibits a subterranean larval stage feeding on plant roots and an adult stage that emerges in spring or early summer. The genus Phyllophaga is one of the most species-rich scarab genera in North America, with over 400 species, and species-level identification often requires examination of genitalia.
Phyllophaga rossi
Phyllophaga rossi is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Saylor in 1939. It belongs to the genus Phyllophaga, commonly known as May or June beetles, a large group of soil-dwelling scarabs whose larvae feed on plant roots. The species is recorded from Arizona, USA, within the Nearctic region. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to have a subterranean larval stage and aerial adult stage, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Phyllophaga rubricosa
Phyllophaga rubricosa is a species of May beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Reinhard in 1939. Like other members of the genus Phyllophaga, it is likely a root-feeding scarab beetle with larvae that develop in soil. The species is known from Texas, USA. Information specific to this species is sparse; most knowledge about Phyllophaga rubricosa must be inferred from the genus level.
Phyllophaga subtonsa
May beetle, June beetle
Phyllophaga subtonsa is a species of May beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. Like other members of the genus, it is characterized by nocturnal adult activity and larval development as white grubs in soil, feeding on plant roots. The species is found in the eastern and central United States. Adults are attracted to lights and are most active during late spring and early summer. The genus Phyllophaga is one of the most species-rich in North America, with over 400 species, making species-level identification often difficult without examination of genitalia.
Phymatopus behrensii
Phymatopus behrensii is a hepialid moth described by Stretch in 1872. It is known from California and Washington in the western United States. The species has a wingspan of approximately 43 mm. Larvae have been recorded feeding on a diverse range of plants including Helenium, Lupinus, Malus, and various ferns.
Polygrammodes flavidalis
Ironweed Root Moth
Polygrammodes flavidalis is a crambid moth commonly known as the ironweed root moth. It is widely distributed across eastern and central North America, with records spanning from Ontario south to Florida and west to Texas and Kansas. The common name references its association with ironweed plants (genus Vernonia).
Polyphylla decemlineata
Ten-lined June Beetle, Watermelon Beetle
Polyphylla decemlineata is a large scarab beetle native to western North America, commonly known as the Ten-lined June Beetle or Watermelon Beetle. Adults are notable for their distinctive ten white stripes on dark elytra and greatly enlarged, fan-like antennae in males. The species is strongly attracted to lights and exhibits distinctive pheromone-mediated mating behavior where males actively search for flightless females. Larvae develop underground, feeding on roots of grasses and other plants.
Prionus fissicornis
Prionus fissicornis is a long-horned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, distinguished as the sole member of the monotypic subgenus Prionus (Antennalia). It inhabits shortgrass prairie habitats in the Great Plains of North America. Adults are highly attracted to prionic acid lures, and emergence appears to be triggered by rainfall events. Unlike some congeners, adults do not appear to construct or occupy burrows.
Prionus integer
Prionus integer is a longhorned beetle (Cerambycidae) in the subgenus Homaesthesis, endemic to the United States and found in shortgrass prairie habitats of the Great Plains. Adults exhibit unusual burrowing behavior, with both sexes creating shallow soil burrows. Males are strongly attracted to prionic acid pheromone lures, and adult activity appears triggered by rainfall events. The species was described by LeConte in 1851 and remains poorly known compared to economically important congeners.
Pseudohylesinus granulatus
Fir Root Bark Beetle
A bark beetle species in the weevil family Curculionidae, commonly known as the Fir Root Bark Beetle. Native to western North America, it is associated with fir trees and develops in root systems. The species was described by J.M. Swaine in 1918.
Psila rosae
carrot fly, carrot rust fly
Psila rosae, commonly known as the carrot fly or carrot rust fly, is a dipteran pest of cultivated umbelliferous crops. Adults orient to host plants using volatile chemical cues from carrot foliage, with strong electroantennogram responses to propenylbenzenes such as trans-asarone and trans-methylisoeugenol. Larvae feed on carrot roots, causing characteristic mining damage that reduces crop quality and yield. The species has a broad geographic distribution spanning Europe, Asia, North America, and New Zealand. Overwintering occurs as both larvae and pupae, with temperature-dependent diapause in pupae contributing to population synchronization and the potential for multiple generations per year.
Psilidae
rust flies
Psilidae is a family of small to medium-sized flies commonly called rust flies, with at least 38 species in four genera. The family is well represented in temperate zones and is found mainly in the Holarctic region. The carrot fly (Chamaepsila rosae) is the most economically significant member, a major agricultural pest of carrots and related crops. Larvae are phytophagous, feeding in stems, tubers, or roots of nonwoody plants.
Quesada gigas
Giant cicada, chichara grande, coyoyo, coyuyo, coffee cicada
Quesada gigas is a large cicada species native to North, Central, and South America, with the widest geographic range of any cicada in the Western Hemisphere. It is a significant agricultural pest, particularly of coffee (Coffea) in Brazil and paricá (Schizolobium parahyba var. amazonicum) in the Amazon region, where nymphal feeding on roots can cause substantial yield losses or tree mortality. The species exhibits low selectivity in oviposition site choice, with females documented laying eggs in dry branches of non-host plants such as Conyza spp. weeds, which cannot support complete nymphal development due to their annual life cycle.
Rhabdopterus picipes
Cranberry Rootworm
Rhabdopterus picipes, commonly known as the cranberry rootworm, is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. This species is native to North America and is associated with cranberry cultivation, where its larval feeding on roots can cause economic damage. The specific epithet 'picipes' refers to the dark, pitch-black coloration of the legs. Despite its common name, detailed biological information remains sparse in published literature.
Rhopalosiphum rufiabdominale
rice root aphid, red rice root aphid
Rhopalosiphum rufiabdominale is a globally distributed root-feeding aphid pest with a remarkably broad host range spanning 22 plant families. Native to East Asia, it has established populations across every continent except Antarctica. The species exhibits a heteroecious holocyclic life cycle in its native range, alternating between Prunus species (primary hosts) and herbaceous plant roots (secondary hosts), though asexual reproduction dominates in temperate regions and protected cultivation. Its subterranean habit makes detection difficult and management challenging. The aphid vectors several economically important plant viruses including barley yellow dwarf virus and sugarcane yellow leaf virus, and has emerged as a significant pest of indoor-grown cannabis in North America.
Scaptocoris
burrowing bugs, burrower bugs
Scaptocoris is a genus of burrowing bugs in the family Cydnidae, currently containing at least seven described species in the Neotropical region. Species in this genus are economically important soil-borne pests that feed on plant roots using piercing-sucking mouthparts. They exhibit distinctive behavioral adaptations including vertical migration in soil in response to moisture availability and flight dispersal during rainy periods. The genus has been documented attacking crops including soybean, cotton, corn, rice, and various pasture grasses across South America.
Sciaphilus asperatus
Scaly strawberry weevil, Strawberry root weevil
A wingless, parthenogenetic weevil with a broad Palaearctic distribution, recently introduced to North America. Adults feed on leaves of diverse plants, producing distinctive notched edges, while larvae develop underground on roots. The species exhibits high reproductive output and can form locally abundant populations.
Sitona cylindricollis
sweetclover weevil
Sitona cylindricollis, the sweetclover weevil, is a broad-nosed weevil in the family Curculionidae. It is a documented agricultural pest of sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis) and alfalfa/lucerne (Medicago sativa). Adults feed on above-ground foliage, causing defoliation damage that is most severe during late summer critical periods. Larvae feed on root nodules and root tissue underground. The species exhibits temperature- and light-dependent dispersal flight behavior, with peak flight activity occurring in morning hours when ambient temperatures reach threshold levels.
Sitona lepidus
clover root weevil
Sitona lepidus, commonly known as the clover root weevil, is a root-feeding weevil native to Europe that has become an invasive pest in New Zealand and North America. Adults feed on clover foliage while larvae feed on root nodules, reducing nitrogen fixation and pasture quality. The species is particularly damaging in New Zealand due to the absence of natural competitors and established biological control programs using the parasitoid wasp Microctonus aethiopoides are underway.
Systena sexnotata
six-spotted flea beetle
Systena sexnotata is a flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. Adults feed on walnut foliage (Juglandaceae), while larvae feed on roots. The species is restricted to Central and Western Texas. Body length ranges from 4.8 to 5.5 millimeters.
Tetanops parallelus
Tetanops parallelus is a species of picture-winged fly in the family Ulidiidae, described by Steyskal in 1970. The genus Tetanops comprises six known species in North America, all of which are root-feeders in their larval stage. Adults display the characteristic patterned wings typical of ulidiid flies. This species belongs to a group that is rarely considered economically significant, though larval root-feeding habits may occasionally affect living plants.
Tetraopes discoideus
Tetraopes discoideus is a small milkweed longhorn beetle in the family Cerambycidae, described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1847. Adults measure 7–9 mm in length, making this species notably smaller than congeners. The species is associated with milkweed plants (Asclepias spp.) throughout its range in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Adults have been observed resting, feeding, and mating on milkweed stems and flowers. Larvae develop by feeding on milkweed roots, either tunneling directly into large taproots or living in surrounding soil when roots are small.
Thecesternus hirsutus
bison dung weevil, bison snout beetle
Thecesternus hirsutus is a small, flightless weevil in the family Curculionidae, native to North America. It was first described by Pierce in 1909 and gained scientific attention through evaluation as a potential biological control agent for Parthenium hysterophorus in Australia. The species is nocturnal, spends winter as larvae underground feeding on plant roots, and is known for its cryptic appearance and death-feigning behavior when disturbed.
Trichiotinus piger
Bee-like Flower Scarab, Hairy Flower Chafer
Trichiotinus piger is a flower scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, commonly known as the bee-like flower scarab or hairy flower chafer. Adults are active during summer months and feed on pollen and nectar from flowers of various deciduous trees and shrubs. The species is distributed across eastern and central North America, from southern Canada through the eastern United States. Larvae develop in soil, feeding on plant roots over a multi-year period before pupating.