Sonchus
Guides
Craspedolepta sonchi
A psyllid species in the family Aphalaridae, associated with Sonchus (sow thistle) and related Asteraceae plants. The specific epithet 'sonchi' reflects this documented host relationship. Like other psyllids, it feeds on phloem sap and may induce gall formation on host plants.
Cystiphora sonchi
Cystiphora sonchi is a gall midge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) native to Eurasia that has been introduced to North America as a biological control agent for sow-thistles (Sonchus species). The larvae induce small, circular galls on the leaves of host plants, with females ovipositing through stomata of leaves in final growth stages. The species exhibits strict host specificity to the genus Sonchus, and has established populations in multiple Canadian provinces following intentional releases.
Hyperomyzus pallidus
Gooseberry-Sowthistle Aphid
Hyperomyzus pallidus is a species of aphid in the family Aphididae, first described by Hille Ris Lambers in 1935. It is commonly known as the Gooseberry-Sowthistle Aphid, reflecting its association with host plants in the genera Ribes (gooseberries and currants) and Sonchus (sowthistles). The species exhibits the typical aphid life cycle with alternating hosts, though specific details remain incompletely documented. It has been recorded from parts of Europe and North America.