Senecio
Guides
Agonopterix canadensis
Canadian agonopterix, Canadian Agonopterix Moth
Agonopterix canadensis is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, with forewings measuring 8.5–10.5 mm. The species occurs across a broad North American range from the northeastern United States and southern Canada westward through the Rocky Mountains to Colorado, California, and Nevada. Larvae feed on Senecio species, including Senecio serra.
Ceroxys latiusculus
narrow-banded picture-winged fly, picture-winged fly
Ceroxys latiusculus, commonly known as the narrow-banded picture-winged fly, is a species of ulidiid fly native to western North America. Adults measure 9–12 mm and are recognized by their grayish-brown bodies, black abdomen with gray bands, and distinctively patterned wings. The species is frequently encountered as a nuisance pest when adults enter buildings in autumn to seek winter shelter. Larvae develop within the seed heads of Senecio plants.
Hypocrita
Hypocrita is a genus of tiger moths established by Jacob Hübner in 1807. The genus belongs to the family Erebidae (formerly Arctiidae) and contains multiple species distributed across various regions. Some species have been reclassified over time, such as Hypocrita phoenicides. The genus includes the cinnabar moth (Hypocrita jacobaeae), a well-known biological control agent for tansy ragwort.
Neacoryphus bicrucis
Whitecrossed seed bug, Ragwort seed bug, White-crossed seed bug
Neacoryphus bicrucis is a seed-feeding true bug (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) commonly known as the whitecrossed seed bug or ragwort seed bug. The species is specialized on Senecio species as host plants, from which it sequesters pyrrolizidine alkaloids that render it distasteful to some predators. It exhibits complex territorial and mating behaviors centered on host plant patches, with males defending high-density areas where females preferentially oviposit. The species shows pronounced sexual dimorphism in flight behavior: females conditionally histolyze flight muscles based on resource availability, while males retain flight capability throughout life. It has a broad distribution across the Americas and has been introduced to Oceania.
Platyptilia williamsii
Calendula Plume Moth
Platyptilia williamsii, commonly known as the calendula plume moth, is a plume moth in the family Pterophoridae found in western North America. Adults display distinctive wing patterning with ocherous-brown forewings marked by dark brown patches and white speckling. The larvae are known to feed on Calendula species and certain Senecio species.