Stem-borer
Guides
Synanthedon albicornis
Western Willow Clearwing Moth
Synanthedon albicornis is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, commonly known as the Western Willow Clearwing Moth. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with males possessing highly bipectinate (feathery) antennae and distinctive white thoracic tufts composed of hair-like scales. Like other sesiids, it is a wasp mimic with reduced wing scaling that creates a transparent appearance. The species is diurnal and generally not attracted to light traps.
Synanthedon castaneae
Chestnut Clearwing Moth
A clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, Synanthedon castaneae is a specialist associated with Castanea (chestnut) trees. The species is part of a guild of insects that historically relied on American chestnut (Castanea dentata) as a host, and like other members of this community, has been affected by the decline of this keystone tree species due to chestnut blight. The common name reflects this host association.
Thaumatopsis pectinifer
Thaumatopsis pectinifer is a grass-veneer moth in the family Crambidae, described by Zeller in 1877. It occurs across the central and eastern United States. The larvae are stem borers in grasses, including cultivated corn.
Thrincopyge
jewel beetles
Thrincopyge is a genus of jewel beetles (family Buprestidae) in the subfamily Polycestinae. The genus contains three described species: T. alacris, T. ambiens, and T. marginata. Adults are known for their striking metallic coloration, typically combining blue or green with vivid yellow. Larvae develop within the dried flowering stalks of sotol plants (Dasylirion spp.), while adults conceal themselves at the base of the plants among the long, strap-like leaves. The genus occurs in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
Thrypticus willistoni
Thrypticus willistoni is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae, first described by Wheeler in 1890. The genus Thrypticus comprises small to minute flies associated with grasses and sedges, with larvae that develop within plant stems. Adults are characterized by reduced wing venation and distinctive leg proportions typical of the family.
Thurberiphaga
Thurberiphaga is a monotypic moth genus in the family Noctuidae, containing a single species, Thurberiphaga diffusa. The genus is endemic to southern Arizona and is tightly associated with its sole host plant, wild cotton (Gossypium thurberi). The caterpillar is a stem-borer with distinctive pinkish coloration and rough setae. Adults are active during the summer monsoon season.
Trachelus
stem sawflies
Trachelus is a genus of stem sawflies in the family Cephidae. Species are internal feeders in grass stems, with several species recognized as significant agricultural pests of wheat and barley. The genus occurs across the Palearctic region, with documented species in Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Larval development occurs entirely within host plant stems, causing characteristic damage often called 'whiteheads' in cereal crops.
Trachelus tabidus
Black Wheat Stem-sawfly
Trachelus tabidus is a stem-sawfly in the family Cephidae, commonly known as the Black Wheat Stem-sawfly. It is an agricultural pest of cereal crops, particularly wheat. The larvae bore inside stems, causing lodging and yield loss. It has been documented in North America and Europe, including the Azores.
Trichobaris
flower weevils
Trichobaris is a genus of flower weevils in the family Curculionidae, comprising 8–13 described species distributed from the southwestern United States through Mexico. These weevils are specialized herbivores associated with plants in the family Solanaceae, particularly the genus Datura, with which they likely coevolved. Several species are notable agricultural pests, including T. mucorea (tobacco stalk borer) and T. trinotata (potato stalk borer), which also feed on cultivated solanaceous crops. Research on this genus has contributed to understanding host-herbivore coevolution, chemical ecology of host selection, and the decoupling of maternal oviposition cues from larval performance.
Trichobaris mucorea
tobacco stalk borer
Trichobaris mucorea is a flower weevil in the family Curculionidae, commonly known as the tobacco stalk borer. The species is specialized on host plants in the genus Nicotiana, particularly Nicotiana attenuata, where it completes most of its life cycle concealed within stems. Adult females use volatile chemical cues to select oviposition sites, though these cues do not necessarily predict larval performance. The species is native to North America.
Xubida dentilineatella
Xubida dentilineatella is a small crambid moth described by Barnes and McDunnough in 1913. It occurs in Mexico and the southern United States, with confirmed records from Arizona. Adults are active during summer months, and larvae are specialized borers in Saccharum species.
Zenodoxus mexicanus
Zenodoxus mexicanus is a clearwing moth (family Sesiidae) described by Beutenmüller in 1897. The genus Zenodoxus belongs to the subfamily Tinthiinae, a group of sesiid moths characterized by their wasp-mimicking appearance and diurnal activity patterns. This species occurs in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions, with the specific epithet suggesting a Mexican distribution. Clearwing moths in this family are typically associated with woody plants, with larvae often boring into stems or roots.