Stem-borer
Guides
Achatodes zeae
Elder Shoot Borer Moth, Spindle Worm
Achatodes zeae, known as the elder shoot borer moth or spindle worm, is a noctuid moth whose larvae bore into the shoots of elder bushes (Sambucus nigra). The species was first described in 1841 and gained agricultural attention in 1927 following an outbreak in Wisconsin. Its life cycle spans approximately one year, with extended egg dormancy and larval development focused on elder vegetation.
Acrobasis angusella
Hickory Leafstem Borer, Leafstem Borer, Hickory Leafstem Borer Moth
Acrobasis angusella, described by Grote in 1880, is a snout moth in the family Pyralidae. The species is known from Quebec, Canada, and the northeastern United States. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 18 mm and are active from May through September. The larvae are specialized feeders on hickory species (Carya), boring into leaf stems and causing premature leaf drop.
Agallissus lepturoides
Mexican Palm Petiole Borer
A longhorn beetle species in the Cerambycinae subfamily, first described by Chevrolat in 1844. The common name 'Mexican Palm Petiole Borer' refers to its specialized relationship with palm hosts. It has a documented but limited distribution in southern North America and Central America.
Agathymus
giant-skippers
Agathymus is a genus of large skipper butterflies described by H.A. Freeman in 1959. The genus comprises approximately 30 species distributed across arid regions of North America from the southwestern United States through Mexico to Costa Rica. Larvae are specialized stem-borers in agave plants, making this genus ecologically dependent on desert agave communities. Species are commonly known as giant-skippers.
Agrilinae
Agrilinae is a subfamily of metallic wood-boring beetles (family Buprestidae) characterized by larvae that develop in plant stems, twigs, and branches. The subfamily contains the hyperdiverse genus Agrilus, which with nearly 4,000 described species is among the largest genera in the animal kingdom. Most Agrilinae are secondary pests of broadleaf forests, developing in recently dead wood, though some species attack living trees of economic importance. Adults are typically small, often under 8 mm, and lack the vivid metallic colors common in other Buprestidae subfamilies. The subfamily has a cosmopolitan distribution with greatest diversity in tropical and warm temperate regions.
Agrilus cuprescens
Rose Stem Girdler, Bronze Cane Borer
Agrilus cuprescens is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, commonly known as the rose stem girdler or bronze cane borer. Native to the Palearctic region, it has been introduced to North America where it has been documented as far west as Washington State. The species is associated with Rosa species and related Rosaceae as larval hosts, with larvae developing in stems and exhibiting girdling behavior. It serves as host for the parasitoid wasp Baryscapus rugglesi.
Agrilus pseudocoryli
hazel stem borer
Agrilus pseudocoryli is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, commonly known as the hazel stem borer. It develops within stems of hazelnut plants (Corylus spp.), where larval tunneling causes dieback. The species has been documented as a pest of hybrid hazelnut cultivars in the Great Lakes region, with damage severity varying by cultivar. Adult activity occurs from early June to mid-July.
Alberada bidentella
Alberada bidentella is a small snout moth described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1908. It occurs in the south-western United States, where its larvae develop internally within the stems of cholla cacti (Cylindropuntia species). The species exhibits slight sexual dimorphism in wingspan.
Albuna fraxini
Virginia Creeper Clearwing
Albuna fraxini, commonly known as the Virginia Creeper Clearwing, is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae. The species is native to the northern United States and southern Canada. Adults are active during summer months and are notable for their wasp-mimicking appearance. The larvae develop within the stems of woody host plants including Virginia creeper and various ash species.
Alcathoe
Alcathoe is a genus of clearwing moths in the family Sesiidae, restricted to the New World tropics and extending north into the southern United States. These moths are notable for their striking wasp mimicry, with five species currently recognized north of Mexico. Males possess distinctive morphological features including highly bipectinate antennae and often a single tail-like appendage from the abdomen tip that approximates the dangling legs of wasps. The genus is rarely encountered due to diurnal activity and general disinterest in light traps.
Alcathoe caudata
Clematis Clearwing Moth
Alcathoe caudata is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, commonly known as the Clematis Clearwing Moth. The genus Alcathoe is restricted to the New World tropics and southern United States, with five species occurring north of Mexico. This species exhibits wasp mimicry, with transparent wings and a body form resembling spider wasps. Males possess a distinctive single tail-like appendage from the abdomen tip. The caterpillars are stem borers in Clematis plants.
Alcathoe pepsioides
Alcathoe pepsioides is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, known for its striking wasp mimicry. The species occurs in the southwestern United States and is one of five Alcathoe species found north of Mexico. Males possess a distinctive single tail-like abdominal appendage that approximates the dangling legs of spider wasps. The genus is otherwise restricted to the New World tropics.
Alcathoe verrugo
Alcathoe verrugo is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, native to the New World tropics and southern United States. Like other sesiids, it exhibits wasp mimicry, with transparent wings and a slender body that resembles hymenopterans in flight. The genus Alcathoe contains five species north of Mexico, all rarely encountered. Males possess a single tail-like abdominal appendage that approximates the dangling legs of wasps.
Amauromyza
Amauromyza is a genus of leaf-miner and stem-borer flies in the family Agromyzidae, comprising over 60 described species. Most species are phytophagous, with larvae feeding internally in plant tissues. The genus includes significant agricultural pests such as Amauromyza karli, which has recently emerged as a major constraint to quinoa production in the western United States. Species exhibit variation in feeding ecology, with some mining leaves and others boring stems.
Aphanisticus congener
Aphanisticus congener is a species of jewel beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Saunders in 1875. It belongs to a genus of minute buprestids characterized by their small size and reduced elytral sculpturing. The species epithet 'congener' suggests its close relationship to other members of the genus. Like other Aphanisticus species, it is likely associated with monocotyledonous plants, particularly grasses and sedges, though specific host records for this species are limited.
Arcola malloi
alligator weed stem borer, Alligatorweed Stem Borer
Arcola malloi is a snout moth species used as a biological control agent against the invasive aquatic plant alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides). Native to South America, it was introduced to the United States in the 1970s and is now established in the southeastern United States. The species is notable for its stem-boring larval behavior that destroys host plant stems from the inside. When present alongside the alligator weed flea beetle, the two species act synergistically to eliminate weed mats.
Aspidapion
Aspidapion is a genus of small weevils in the family Brentidae (subfamily Apioninae), distributed across the Palaearctic region including Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia. The genus contains approximately seven recognized species, with A. aeneum being the largest British representative at 2.9–3.6 mm. Species are associated with Malvaceae host plants, with larvae developing inside living plant stems. The genus is distinguished from the related Pseudaspidapion by morphological characteristics of immature stages.
Ataxia
Ataxia is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae: Lamiinae: Pteropliini) described by Haldeman in 1847. Species in this genus are found in the Americas and are associated with herbaceous plants, particularly members of the Asteraceae family. The genus includes species such as Ataxia hubbardi, which breeds in living tissues of plants including Helianthus, Ambrosia, and Silphium species. Some populations show morphological variation associated with specific host plants.
Atherigona reversura
Bermudagrass Stem Maggot, shoot-fly
Atherigona reversura is a muscid shoot fly commonly known as the bermudagrass stem maggot. Native to Central and Southeast Asia, it has become an invasive agricultural pest in the Americas, causing significant damage to bermudagrass and stargrass forage systems. The species was first detected in Hawaii, then spread to the continental United States beginning in 2009, and has since been reported in South America including Argentina and Uruguay. Larval feeding in grass stems causes death of upper leaves, stunted growth, and reduced forage yields.
Bactra
nutsedge borers
Bactra is a genus of small tortricid moths (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Olethreutinae) comprising species primarily associated with sedges and nutsedges (Cyperus species). Several species have been investigated as biological control agents for weedy nutsedges, particularly purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus). Some species have expanded their host range to agricultural crops, with Bactra bactrana documented as a pest of sweet pepper in Greece. The genus occurs across temperate and tropical regions including Europe, North America, and Southeast Asia.
Bactra furfurana
mottled marble
Bactra furfurana is a small tortricid moth with a wingspan of 13–19 mm, found across the Nearctic and Palearctic realms. Adults fly in June and July in damp marshy habitats. The larvae are stem-borers in rushes, feeding internally on Schoenoplectus lacustris and Juncus conglomeratus. The species closely resembles Bactra lancealana but can be distinguished by subtle wing shape and pattern differences.
Bellura densa
Pickerelweed Borer Moth
Bellura densa, commonly known as the pickerelweed borer moth, is a noctuid moth species native to eastern and southeastern North America. The species is notable for its aquatic or semi-aquatic larval biology, with caterpillars that bore into and feed on wetland plants. Adults are medium-sized moths with a wingspan of 35–50 mm. The species is associated with freshwater wetland habitats and has been documented from Maryland to Florida and west to Indiana and Louisiana.
Blastobasis
Blastobasis is the type genus of the moth family Blastobasidae (Gelechioidea), containing approximately half of all described species in that family. The genus is taxonomically problematic: its monophyly is seriously doubted, with many presumed relatives separated into small or monotypic genera that may represent specialized lineages within a broader Blastobasinae assemblage. Some formerly independent genera, including Agnoea, Auximobasis, Euresia, and Zenodochium, are variably included or excluded by different authors. Species occur across multiple continents with diverse larval habits, including acorn borers in oaks and stem borers in grasses.
Botanophila fugax
Botanophila fugax is a small fly in the family Anthomyiidae, distributed across the Palearctic region. The species is characterized by larval development as a stem borer in plant hosts. It has been documented as a host for the entomopathogenic fungus Strongwellsea crypta, which produces distinctive rhomboid-shaped abdominal holes in infected individuals.
Bothrosternini
Bothrosternini is a tribe of weevils within the subfamily Dryophthorinae, characterized by elongated rostrums and association with woody plants. Members of this tribe are found in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in the Americas. The tribe includes economically significant species that attack palms and other monocots.
Calameuta
Calameuta is a genus of stem sawflies (family Cephidae) established by Friedrich Wilhelm Konow in 1896. The genus comprises approximately 14 described species distributed across Europe and North America. Members of this genus are associated with grasses and sedges, reflecting the family-wide ecological pattern of Cephidae. The genus is taxonomically stable and well-represented in entomological collections.
Calamotropha paludella
Bulrush Veneer
Calamotropha paludella is a crambid moth with broad distribution across Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia, and a recent accidental introduction to the eastern United States. It is commonly known as the Bulrush Veneer due to its larval association with Typha plants. The species is notable for its wetland habitat specialization and transcontinental range.
Capperia evansi
Evans' Plume Moth
Capperia evansi is a small plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, native to Canada. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 14 mm and exhibit bivoltine flight periods in early June and again from mid-July to early August. The larvae are specialized feeders on Scutellaria species (skullcaps), where they damage the main stem causing it to droop and conceal themselves among withered leaves.
Carmenta
clearwing moth
Carmenta is a genus of clearwing moths in the family Sesiidae, characterized by transparent or partially transparent wings resulting from reduced wing scaling. The genus contains approximately 100 described species distributed primarily in the Neotropics, with some species extending into North America. Members are diurnal and often wasp-mimicking in appearance. Several species are economically significant as pests of agricultural crops, including C. theobromae which has shifted from native cacao to become a major pest of guava in Colombia.
Carmenta anthracipennis
liatris borer moth, Blazing Star Clearwing
A clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, described by Jean Baptiste Boisduval in 1875. The species is notable for its larval association with Liatris species, where larvae bore through stems. It occurs in the eastern and central United States, with records extending into Canada.
Carmenta prosopis
Carmenta prosopis is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, described by Henry Edwards in 1882. It occurs in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The larvae feed on mesquites (Prosopis species). As a member of the clearwing moth group, it exhibits wasp-mimicking appearance and diurnal activity patterns typical of the family.
Carmenta tecta
mistletoe stem borer
Carmenta tecta is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, described by Henry Edwards in 1882. It is commonly known as the mistletoe stem borer due to its larval association with mistletoe plants. The species is documented from the southwestern United States, particularly Arizona. Its biology is closely tied to oak-mistletoe ecosystems.
Cephus
stem sawflies
Cephus is a genus of stem sawflies in the family Cephidae, first described by Latreille in 1802. Members are found in Europe and North America. These insects are notable for their cylindrical, wasp-like bodies and their habit of boring into grass stems.
Chilo
borers
Chilo is a genus of crambid moths (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) commonly known as borers. Species in this genus are primarily recognized as agricultural pests of graminaceous crops, particularly sugarcane. The genus includes economically significant species such as C. tumidicostalis (Plassey borer), C. sacchariphagus indicus (internode borer), C. auricilius (stalk borer), and C. suppressalis (striped rice stem borer). These moths are characterized by larval stages that bore into plant stems, causing substantial yield losses in tropical and subtropical agricultural regions.
Chilonini
Chilonini is a tribe of grass moths within the family Crambidae. Members are generally small to medium-sized moths with narrow wings and slender bodies. The tribe includes several economically significant stem-boring pest species, particularly in the genus Chilo, which attack cereal crops including maize, rice, and sugarcane. Chilonini species are distributed across tropical and temperate regions worldwide, with highest diversity in the Old World tropics.
Chionodes arenella
Chionodes arenella is a small gelechiid moth native to eastern North America, ranging from Nova Scotia to Virginia. The species has a wingspan of approximately 20 mm and is distinguished by its clay-colored forewings with contrasting pale veins and dark greyish shading. Larvae are specialized stem borers in beachgrass (Ammophila breviligulata).
Chlorops
grass flies, frit flies
Chlorops is a genus of small flies in the family Chloropidae, commonly known as grass flies or frit flies. Several species are significant agricultural pests of cereal crops. Chlorops oryzae (rice stem maggot) is a major pest of rice in Asia, causing 20-50% yield losses by larval feeding on developing leaves and young panicles. Chlorops taeniopus (gout fly) and related species damage barley and wheat in Europe. The genus exhibits geographic variation in voltinism, with some populations producing 2-5 generations annually depending on latitude and diapause patterns.
Coenopoeus
Coenopoeus is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) in the subfamily Lamiinae, tribe Acanthocinini. The genus contains two described species: Coenopoeus niger and Coenopoeus palmeri. These beetles are associated with cactus habitats, with C. palmeri specifically documented as feeding on staghorn cacti (Cylindropuntia species). Adults are nocturnal and feed externally on cactus tissues, while larvae are internal miners within cactus stems.
Crambidae
Crambid Snout Moths, grass moths
Crambidae is a large family of Lepidoptera comprising over 10,000 species in more than 1,000 genera across 15 subfamilies. The family includes economically significant agricultural pests such as the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis), sod webworms (Crambus spp.), and the invasive box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis). Historically treated as a subfamily of Pyralidae, Crambidae was elevated to full family status based on the presence of a praecinctorium—a structure joining two tympanic membranes absent in Pyralidae. Members exhibit diverse morphologies: Crambinae (grass moths) are slender with wings folded tightly around the body at rest, while other subfamilies display bright coloration and rest with wings spread.
Crambini
Grass-Veneers
Crambini is a tribe of moths within the subfamily Crambinae, commonly known as Grass-Veneers. The tribe includes over 1,800 species worldwide. Larvae are predominantly root feeders or stem borers, with many species associated with grasses. The tribe is distinguished by tympanal organ structure and the phallus attached medially to the juxta.
Cylindrocopturus adspersus
sunflower stem weevil
Cylindrocopturus adspersus, commonly known as the sunflower stem weevil, is a true weevil in the family Curculionidae. Adults are small, grayish-brown beetles with irregular whitish markings, approximately 5 mm in length. The species has a single generation per year, with larvae developing inside sunflower stems and overwintering in chambers hollowed out at the base of the plant. It is recognized as an occasional but potentially serious pest of cultivated sunflowers in North America, capable of reducing yields by up to 50% in heavily infested fields.
Cylindrocopturus dehiscens
Cylindrocopturus dehiscens is a species of weevil in the family Curculionidae. It belongs to a genus associated with sunflowers (Helianthus spp.) and related plants in the Asteraceae family. The genus Cylindrocopturus includes several species that are recognized as sunflower pests, particularly as stem-borers during their larval stages.
Cylindrocopturus deleoni
Cylindrocopturus deleoni is a species of weevil in the family Curculionidae, first described by Buchanan in 1940. It belongs to the genus Cylindrocopturus, which includes several species associated with sunflower and other Asteraceae hosts. The species is recorded from western North America, specifically Alberta and British Columbia in Canada. Like other members of its genus, it is likely a stem-boring weevil with larvae that develop within host plant stems.
Cylindrocopturus longulus group
The Cylindrocopturus longulus group represents a species complex within the weevil genus Cylindrocopturus, closely related to C. adspersus (Sunflower Stem Weevil). Members of this group are stem-boring weevils associated with sunflowers (Helianthus spp.). The group designation indicates taxonomic uncertainty, with specimens potentially representing an undescribed species. Like other Cylindrocopturus species, these weevils likely complete their life cycle within sunflower stems, with larvae boring downward through pith tissue.
Cylindrocopturus quercus
Cylindrocopturus quercus is a species of twig and stem weevil in the tribe Zygopini, family Curculionidae. It is native to North America and associated with oak hosts (Quercus). As a member of the Zygopini, it likely exhibits the typical life history of twig-boring weevils, with larvae developing within woody stems.
Dectes
Dectes stem borer
Dectes is a genus of longhorn beetles (family Cerambycidae, subfamily Lamiinae) established by John Lawrence LeConte in 1852. The genus contains three recognized species: Dectes nigripilus, Dectes sayi, and Dectes texanus. The most economically significant species is D. texanus, commonly known as the Dectes stem borer or soybean stem borer, which has become an important agricultural pest of soybean and sunflower crops in the central and eastern United States. Larvae tunnel into plant stems and girdle the base before overwintering, causing lodging and yield losses. D. sayi is also associated with soybean and sunflower but prefers common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) as a primary host.
Dectes texanus
Dectes stem borer, Texas prick, soybean stem borer
Dectes texanus is a native North American longhorn beetle (Cerambycidae: Lamiinae) that has emerged as a significant agricultural pest of soybeans and sunflowers in the Midwestern and Great Plains regions of the United States. Adults are characterized by antennae longer than their bodies and a pale gray coloration. Larvae tunnel inside plant stems from July through October, then girdle the stem base internally before overwintering, causing pre-harvest lodging and yield losses. The species has expanded its range and pest status dramatically since the 1980s, correlating with increased soybean acreage and adoption of no-till farming practices. Originally associated with wild hosts including ragweed and cocklebur, it colonized cultivated soybeans approximately 50 years ago.
Depressaria
Depressaria is a genus of moths in the family Depressariidae (subfamily Depressariinae), previously treated as part of Oecophoridae or as a distinct family. The genus contains approximately 80+ described species, with new species continuing to be discovered. Most species are specialists on Apiaceae (umbellifers), feeding on reproductive structures, though some species utilize Salicaceae (willows). Several species are economically significant agricultural pests or invasive species in North America, including D. depressana (purple carrot-seed moth) and D. radiella (parsnip webworm). The type species, D. heraclei (parsnip moth), has a confused taxonomic history dating to Linnaeus.
Diastictis baccatalis
Media Moth
Diastictis baccatalis, commonly known as the Media Moth, is a species of pyraloid moth in the family Crambidae. It is a moderately sized moth with distinctive wing patterns that facilitate identification. The species has been documented across much of North America and is frequently observed by citizen scientists, with over 2,300 records on iNaturalist. Its larvae are associated with plants in the genus Baccharis.
Dicerca pugionata
witch-hazel borer, ninebark borer
A striking jewel beetle in the family Buprestidae, measuring 11–14 mm in length. Unlike most Dicerca species that breed in dead wood, D. pugionata larvae mine living stems of woody shrubs. The species occurs sporadically across eastern North America but reaches locally abundant populations in Missouri glades where host plants grow under stressed conditions.