Seed-predator
Guides
Acanthoscelides
bean weevils
Acanthoscelides is a genus of bean weevils in the subfamily Bruchinae, native to the New World with highest diversity in Mexico. The genus contains approximately 300–340 described species with over 200 additional undescribed species. Historically functioning as a wastebasket taxon, species were transferred into this genus from other genera (primarily Bruchus) in 1946. Beetles in this genus are small seed predators that develop within legume seeds, with some species achieving worldwide pest status while others serve as biological control agents.
Acanthoscelides calvus
Acanthoscelides calvus is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, described by Horn in 1873. The species is distributed across North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Larvae have been documented feeding specifically on seeds of Crocanthemum, a genus in the rockrose family (Cistaceae).
Acanthoscelides obtectus
Bean Weevil, Bean Bruchid, Dry Bean Weevil
Acanthoscelides obtectus is a small bruchid beetle and major pest of stored legume seeds, particularly common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). Native to mountainous regions of northern South America, it has spread globally through grain shipments and now occurs on every continent except Antarctica. The species is notable for its ability to infest seeds both in the field and in storage, with larvae developing entirely within seeds while adults feed on pollen. Its economic impact stems from reduced seed quality, germination failure, and contamination of legume products.
Acanthoscelides pallidipennis
Acanthoscelides pallidipennis is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, specifically within the seed beetle subfamily Bruchinae. Native to North America, it has been introduced to East Asia including Japan, where it was first recorded in 1997–1999. The species is a specialist seed predator of the introduced legume Amorpha fruticosa, achieving extremely high seed predation rates in its introduced range. It is subject to parasitism by Eupelmus wasps.
Aethes smeathmanniana
Smeathmann's Aethes Moth
A small tortricid moth with a wingspan of 12–19 mm. Adults are active from May to August. The species has a trans-Atlantic distribution, occurring across Europe, Asia Minor, and eastern North America. Larvae develop within seeds of various plants, particularly composites.
Alucitidae
Many-plumed Moths
Alucitidae, or many-plumed moths, are a family of small Lepidoptera distinguished by their unique wing structure. The family contains approximately 200 described species worldwide, primarily in the genera Alucita and Pterotopteryx. Larvae are typically gall-inducers or borers in flowers, fruits, and shoots of dicotyledonous plants, particularly in families Caprifoliaceae, Rubiaceae, and Dipsacaceae. Adults are frequently attracted to light and exhibit varying flight periods, with many species being bivoltine and hibernating as adults.
Alydus conspersus
broad-headed bug
Alydus conspersus is a species of broad-headed bug in the family Alydidae, first described by Montandon in 1893. It is one of three recognized subspecies within the species complex. The species is distributed across North America with documented records from Arizona, Colorado, Louisiana, Massachusetts, and Michigan. Like other members of the Alydidae, it is associated with feeding on seeds and has been observed utilizing extra-phytophagous food sources including animal dung.
Amblycerini
Amblycerini is a tribe of seed beetles within the subfamily Bruchinae (Chrysomelidae), established by Bridwell in 1932. Members of this tribe are characterized by their association with seeds as developmental hosts. The genus Spermophagus, a well-studied member of this tribe, shows complex evolutionary patterns of host plant colonization. The tribe is taxonomically accepted and contains multiple genera of seed-feeding beetles.
Apioninae
Pear-shaped Weevils, Seed Weevils, Clover Weevils
Apioninae is a subfamily of small weevils within the family Brentidae, commonly known as pear-shaped weevils, seed weevils, or clover weevils. The subfamily contains at least 20 genera and approximately 80 described species, though diversity is likely higher. Members are characterized by their compact, pear-shaped body form and elongated rostrum. All species are phytophagous, with many exhibiting specialized associations with particular host plant families, particularly Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Malvaceae, and Polygonaceae. Some species are significant agricultural pests of legumes and jute, while others have been employed as biological control agents for invasive plants.
Apionini
Apionini is a tribe of small weevils within the subfamily Apioninae of the family Brentidae. Members are characterized by their compact body form and association with flowering plants, particularly in the legume family Fabaceae. The tribe exhibits ancient co-diversification patterns with angiosperms, with some subtribes such as Oxystomatina showing specialized host relationships. Brazilian representatives include genera such as Pygidiapion and Coelocephalapion, which develop in flower buds, seeds, or induce leaf galls on specific host plants.
Araecerus fasciculatus
Coffee Bean Weevil
Araecerus fasciculatus, commonly known as the coffee bean weevil, is a polyphagous stored product pest in the family Anthribidae. Adults measure 3–5 mm with a dome-shaped, dark-brown body mottled with light and dark pubescence. The species has been documented on over 100 host plants including coffee, maize, cassava, nutmeg, dried fruits, and various nuts. It completes its life cycle inside seeds and stored products, with development times varying from 29 to 57 days depending on humidity and temperature. Through international trade, it has achieved cosmopolitan distribution in tropical and subtropical regions and is considered economically significant due to damage and contamination of stored commodities.
Atractomerus
Atractomerus is a genus of weevils (Curculionidae) established by Schoenherr in 1833. At least one species, A. pitangae, has been documented as a seed predator of Eugenia involucrata (Rio Grande Cherry) in southern Brazil, causing significant damage to seeds and reducing their viability for propagation. The genus belongs to the hyperdiverse family Curculionidae, though detailed biological information for most species remains limited.
Aulacobaris lepidii
Imported Crucifer Weevil
Aulacobaris lepidii, commonly known as the Imported Crucifer Weevil, is a small weevil species in the family Curculionidae. It has been introduced to North America from Europe and is associated with plants in the mustard family (Brassicaceae). The species is part of a genus whose members are often recognized as seed-feeding weevils of economic concern.
Bangasternus orientalis
yellow starthistle bud weevil
Bangasternus orientalis is a small true weevil (Curculionidae) used as a biological control agent against the invasive weed yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis). Native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean, it was introduced to the United States in 1985 and has become established throughout the western United States. Adults feed on leaves and flower buds, while larvae develop within flower heads and consume developing seeds, destroying 50-60% of seeds in infested heads.
Betulapion simile
Birch Catkin Weevil
Betulapion simile is a small weevil species in the family Brentidae, commonly known as the Birch Catkin Weevil. The species was originally described as Apion simile by Kirby in 1811 and later transferred to the genus Betulapion. It is associated with birch trees (Betula species), where adults and larvae develop in catkins. The species has been recorded from multiple European countries including Belgium and Norway.
Boisea
Boxelder Bugs
Boisea is a small genus of soapberry bugs (family Rhopalidae) with a highly disjunct distribution across North America, India, and Africa. The genus contains at least three recognized species, including the well-known North American boxelder bugs: the eastern Boisea trivittata and western Boisea rubrolineata, plus the African Boisea fulcrata. The patchy, vicariant distribution pattern is considered relictual, suggesting a formerly more extensive continuous range. Members are seed-feeding specialists primarily associated with maple family trees.
Boisea rubrolineata
Western Boxelder Bug
Boisea rubrolineata, the western boxelder bug, is a scentless plant bug native to western North America, ranging west of the Continental Divide. This species is a specialist herbivore primarily associated with boxelder maple (Acer negundo), feeding on both pollen from staminate trees and seeds from pistillate trees. Distinguished from its eastern counterpart B. trivittata by prominent red veins on the corium, it exhibits complex semiochemical-mediated behaviors including aggregation and host foraging. The species undergoes incomplete metamorphosis and seeks sheltered overwintering sites in autumn, often becoming a nuisance pest when entering human structures.
Brachypterolus
short-winged flower beetles
Brachypterolus is a genus of short-winged flower beetles in the family Kateretidae, containing approximately six described species. Members of this genus are associated with toadflax plants (Linaria spp.) and have been introduced to North America as inadvertent biological control agents for invasive toadflax species. The genus is characterized by reduced wing development, consistent with its name meaning "short-winged."
Bruchidius villosus
broom seed beetle, Scotch broom bruchid
Bruchidius villosus is a small seed-feeding beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, native to Europe and introduced to North America and New Zealand as a biological control agent for Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius). It has been deliberately released in the United States since the 1990s to reduce seed production in this invasive weed. In New Zealand, it has exhibited problematic host range expansion to non-target leguminous plants. The species is approximately 2 mm in length with dark gray coloration.
Bruchophagus
seed chalcid, gall wasp
Bruchophagus is a genus of chalcid wasps in the family Eurytomidae. Species within this genus are primarily seed-feeders, developing in the seeds of plants in the Fabaceae family, though some species form galls on citrus or other hosts. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution and includes economically significant pests such as the alfalfa seed chalcid (B. roddi) and citrus gall wasp (B. fellis). Recent phylogenomic studies indicate the genus is paraphyletic.
Bruchus
seed beetles, bean beetles, bean weevils
Bruchus is a genus of seed beetles in the leaf beetle family Chrysomelidae, comprising approximately 36 species. The genus is characterized by distinctive male genitalia morphology, including a large, sclerotized, boomerang-shaped ventral plate used in species identification. Members are specialized herbivores feeding almost exclusively on legumes in the tribe Fabeae (Vicieae), including peas, lentils, and vetches. Several species are significant agricultural pests, notably B. lentis on lentils, B. pisorum on peas, and B. rufimanus on fava beans. The genus is primarily Palearctic in distribution, with some species introduced to North America, Africa, and Australia.
Bruchus rufimanus
Broadbean Weevil, Broad Bean Beetle, Broad Bean Seed Beetle
Bruchus rufimanus is a univoltine leaf beetle and major agricultural pest of faba beans (Vicia faba). Adults feed on pollen and nectar, particularly from Fabaceae, while larvae develop inside seeds where they are protected from control measures. The species exhibits precise phenological synchrony with its host plant, with adult colonization timed to crop flowering. Sexual maturation is triggered by photoperiod and pollen consumption, with females becoming reproductive after ingesting faba bean pollen. Overwintering occurs as dormant adults in protected sites or as larvae/pupae within stored seeds.
Caryedon serratus
Groundnut Bruchid, Groundnut Borer
Caryedon serratus is a bruchid beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, commonly known as the groundnut bruchid or groundnut borer. It is a major pest of stored groundnuts (Arachis hypogaea) and also develops on seeds of wild legumes such as Piliostigma thonningii. The species has a broad pantropical and subtropical distribution spanning Africa, the Americas, Europe, and Oceania. Its life cycle is strongly influenced by temperature and humidity, with development rates varying significantly across environmental conditions.
Chaetorellia australis
yellow starthistle peacock fly
Chaetorellia australis is a tephritid fruit fly native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean, introduced to the western United States in 1988 as a biological control agent for the invasive weed yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis). Adult females deposit eggs beneath bracts on host flower heads, and larvae tunnel into developing seeds, destroying up to 90% of seeds within an infested capitulum. The species exhibits a host-marking pheromone behavior that prevents multiple oviposition events in the same flower head and facilitates male aggregation. Despite significant seed destruction at the individual capitulum level, field populations generally remain low and have had limited impact on overall starthistle seed production.
Chaetorellia succinea
False Peacock Fly
Chaetorellia succinea is a tephritid fruit fly native to the Mediterranean region that was accidentally introduced to the western United States in 1991. It has become established as a biological control agent of yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis), a noxious invasive weed. The fly was not intentionally released due to concerns about potential attack on safflower (Carthamus tinctorius). It has been observed to feed on multiple Centaurea species and may competitively displace the related biocontrol fly Chaetorellia australis where both occur.
Chaetostomella
Chaetostomella is a genus of fruit flies in the family Tephritidae, established by Hendel in 1927. The genus comprises approximately 16 described species distributed across the Palearctic region. At least one species, Chaetostomella cylindrica, exhibits host race formation on different thistle species, with documented genetic, morphological, and behavioral divergence between populations associated with Notobasis syriaca and Onopordum illyricum.
Chalcodermus serripes
mimosa green-seed weevil
Chalcodermus serripes is a true weevil in the family Curculionidae, commonly known as the mimosa green-seed weevil. It has been investigated as a potential biological control agent for the invasive plant Mimosa pigra. The species is native to North America. Its common name reflects its association with Mimosa seeds.
Coccotorus pruniphilus
Coccotorus pruniphilus is a species of true weevil in the beetle family Curculionidae. It is endemic to Texas in the United States. The species was described by Chittenden in 1925. Its larvae feed on the seeds of Prunus minutiflora, a wild plum species.
Coelocephalapion
Coelocephalapion is a genus of small weevils in the family Brentidae (subfamily Apioninae) established by Wagner in 1914. Species in this genus exhibit diverse feeding strategies including florivory, seed predation, and gall induction. The genus is primarily Neotropical in distribution, with documented associations spanning multiple plant families including Leguminosae, Euphorbiaceae, Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, and Verbenaceae. Several species have been investigated as biological control agents for invasive plants.
Coelocephalapion eriogoni
Coelocephalapion eriogoni is a species of straight-snouted weevil in the family Brentidae, subfamily Apioninae. The genus Coelocephalapion comprises small weevils associated with specific host plants, and this species is known from associations with Eriogonum (wild buckwheat) species. Like other apionine weevils, it likely exhibits a narrow host range tied to its larval development within plant tissues.
Coleophora deauratella
Red clover casebearer moth
Coleophora deauratella is a small case-bearing moth (wingspan 11–13 mm) in the family Coleophoridae. Native to Europe, Asia Minor, and Tasmania, it has become an invasive pest in North America and New Zealand where it causes severe damage to red clover seed production. Larvae feed on developing seeds within red clover florets, with reported yield losses up to 90% in affected regions. Adults are active in summer, with peak flights typically occurring in June–July in the native range and December in New Zealand.
Coleophora latronella
Coleophora latronella is a case-bearing moth in the family Coleophoridae, described by McDunnough in 1940. The species is known from eastern Canada, with records from Nova Scotia. Its larvae are seed-feeders on Juncus (rush) species and construct distinctive trivalved, tubular silken cases.
Colopterus
Colopterus is a genus of sap-feeding beetles in the family Nitidulidae, containing approximately 10 described species. Species in this genus are associated with fermenting substrates and plant material. At least one species, C. truncatus, has been documented as a seed predator of Inga marginata and produces male-specific aggregation pheromones.
Colopterus truncatus
Colopterus truncatus is a sap-feeding beetle in the family Nitidulidae with a broad distribution across the Americas. It has been documented as a seed predator of Inga marginata in Brazil, representing the first record of this trophic interaction. Males produce a species-specific aggregation pheromone composed of polyene hydrocarbons that attracts both sexes, with field activity requiring synergism with fermenting substrates. The species has also been identified as a principal vector of oak wilt fungus in Minnesota, highlighting its significance in both agricultural and forest ecosystems.
Conophthorus
cone beetles
Conophthorus is a genus of bark beetles in the family Curculionidae comprising approximately 10 described species. Species are specialized on Pinus hosts, with most attacking pine cones and seeds, though some infest shoot tips. The genus includes economically significant pests of pine seed orchards and natural forests, causing cone abortion and reducing seed production. Life histories vary among species: some are univoltine while others are bivoltine, with corresponding differences in seasonal development and host utilization patterns.
Conotrachelus posticatus
Oak Curculio
Conotrachelus posticatus is a small weevil (3.7–5 mm) commonly known as the Oak Curculio, native to North America with a range extending from Canada to Panama. The species is a specialist on oak acorns, using them for both larval development and adult feeding. Females oviposit in acorn seeds, and larvae complete development inside the nut, passing through five instars over 10–30 days depending on host species. Adults emerge in late spring and early summer, with a second winter spent hibernating under leaf litter. The species possesses a stridulatory mechanism for sound production and has been identified as a potential threat to the avocado industry, though its primary ecological role involves oak seed predation with complex implications for forest regeneration.
Curculio
acorn weevils, nut weevils
Curculio is a genus of weevils in the family Curculionidae, commonly known as acorn weevils or nut weevils. Females use their elongated rostrum to bore holes in developing nuts of oak, hickory, and other trees to deposit eggs. Larvae develop inside the seeds, feeding on the nutritious kernel, then emerge in autumn to pupate in soil. The genus has been extensively studied due to its economic impact on nut production and its remarkable morphological adaptations for seed predation.
Curculio occidentis
filbert weevil, California Acorn Weevil
Curculio occidentis, the filbert weevil, is a weevil species native to western North America. It is primarily known as a seed predator of oak acorns, with documented infestations on Garry oak (Quercus garryana), coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), and other oak species. The species has also been recorded feeding on hazelnuts (Corylus avellana), though it generally prefers endemic oak species and rarely causes economic damage to commercial hazelnut crops. Females lay small batches of 2-4 eggs in developing acorns; larvae feed on kernels and exit in autumn to pupate in soil, potentially remaining dormant for 1-2 years before adult emergence.
Curculio sayi
small chestnut weevil, lesser chestnut weevil
Curculio sayi is a true weevil (family Curculionidae) known as the small or lesser chestnut weevil. It is a highly host-specific pest of chestnuts in the genus Castanea, feeding and ovipositing exclusively on chestnut and chinquapin species. The species was historically a major pest of American chestnut (Castanea dentata) before the chestnut blight, with infestation rates of 50-75% considered normal. It has resurged as a significant pest with the restoration of blight-resistant chestnut plantings. Adults exhibit sexual dimorphism in body size and rostrum length, with females being larger and possessing longer snouts adapted for penetrating chestnut burrs.
Curculioninae
flower weevils, acorn and nut weevils
Curculioninae is the largest subfamily of weevils (Curculionidae), containing over 23,500 described species in approximately 2,200 genera. It represents one of the most successful radiations of terrestrial animals. The subfamily is divided into around 30 tribes, with members commonly known as flower weevils or acorn and nut weevils based on larval and adult feeding on plant reproductive structures.
Cydia ingens
Longleaf Pine Seedworm Moth
A small tortricid moth native to the southeastern United States, specialized on pine seeds. Adults are grayish-brown with distinctive metallic bars on the forewings. The species is of minor economic concern due to seed damage in pine plantations.
Cydia piperana
Ponderosa Pine Seedworm Moth
Cydia piperana, commonly known as the ponderosa pine seedworm moth, is a small tortricid moth native to southwestern North America. The species is specialized on conifer hosts, with larvae developing within the seeds of Pinus ponderosa and Pinus jeffreyi. Adults are modest in size with a wingspan of approximately 19 mm. The moth is of ecological interest as a seed predator in pine ecosystems and has potential relevance to forest health monitoring, though it is not considered a major economic pest.
Cydia toreuta
Eastern Pine Seedworm Moth
Cydia toreuta, commonly known as the eastern pine seedworm moth, is a small tortricid moth native to North America. The species is a specialist seed predator, with larvae feeding exclusively on the seeds of red pine (Pinus resinosa) and jack pine (Pinus banksiana). It is considered a minor forest pest that reduces seed viability in conifer stands.
Dichagyris acclivis
Inclined Dart
Dichagyris acclivis, commonly known as the Inclined Dart, is a noctuid moth native to central and eastern North America. The species is of conservation concern in parts of its range, notably listed as a species of special concern in Connecticut. Adults are active in late summer and early autumn, with larvae specializing on seeds of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum).
Dicraeus
Dicraeus is a genus of small flies in the family Chloropidae, first described by Loew in 1873. Species within this genus exhibit specialized feeding habits, with some species feeding on bamboo flowers and others developing as seed predators in grasses. The genus shows notable host specificity, with oviposition behavior influenced by host plant morphology such as glume pubescence. Population genetic studies in Japanese species reveal contrasting patterns of genetic structure correlated with host plant flowering phenology.
Dicymolomia
Dicymolomia is a genus of crambid moths established by Zeller in 1872, containing approximately eight described species. The genus is placed in subfamily Glaphyriinae. Dicymolomia julianalis has been documented as a seed predator on musk thistle (Carduus nutans) in Tennessee, with larvae feeding within seed heads and reducing seed production. The genus has been recorded from the United States, including Vermont and Tennessee.
Dicymolomia julianalis
Julia's Dicymolomia Moth
Dicymolomia julianalis is a crambid moth distributed across eastern North America and Cuba. Larvae exhibit broad dietary flexibility, feeding on seeds of thistles and legumes, as internal borers in cattails and cactus stems, and as predators on bagworm eggs and larvae. The species has been studied for its potential impact on musk thistle seed production.
Dioryctria amatella
southern pineconeworm moth, Southern Pine Coneworm Moth
Dioryctria amatella is a pyralid moth whose larvae develop within pine cones, primarily feeding on seeds and cone tissues. The species is a significant pest in southeastern U.S. pine forests, with one to four generations annually. Adults are active from early spring through late autumn. The species overwinters in Cronartium fusiforme fungal cankers on pine trees, utilizing these as protected winter habitats.
Dysdercus andreae
St. Andrew's Cotton Stainer
Dysdercus andreae, commonly known as St. Andrew's Cotton Stainer, is a brightly colored true bug in the family Pyrrhocoridae. The species is named for the distinctive diagonal white cross on its body, resembling Saint Andrew's Cross. It is found in the Caribbean and parts of North America, where it forms aggregations of hundreds of individuals. The insect feeds primarily on seeds and fruits of Thespesia populnea (Pacific rosewood) and has been documented as a pest of cotton in the West Indies and U.S. Virgin Islands.
Dysdercus suturellus
Common Cotton Stainer Bug, Cotton Stainer
Dysdercus suturellus is a true bug in the family Pyrrhocoridae, commonly known as the cotton stainer. Adults measure 1–1.5 cm in length with a distinctive red thorax and dark brown wings bearing a yellow cross-shaped pattern. The species is native to the southeastern United States, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico. It is a significant agricultural pest of cotton and related plants, with adults and late-stage nymphs feeding on developing seeds and bolls. The bright red coloration is derived from plant pigments obtained through its diet.