Insects Feeding
on this Plant:
____________
Ambrosia artemisiifolia (Common Ragweed) [Asteraceae]
(Observations are from Dennis, Dmitriev & Dietrich, Microleps website, Clark et al., Rider, Marshall, Needham et al., Blackman & Eastop, Gangwere, Joern, Loeffler, Pepper, O'Brien & Anderson, Charlet & Gavloski, Spencer & Steyskal, Snodgrass et al., Ford & Jackman, Natural History Museum, Mitchell, ScaleNet, Eiseman, Wilhelm & Rericha, and Baranowski & Slater)
Coleoptera (Beetles)
Brentidae: Fallapion impunctistriatum [feeds on this plant] WR2017; Cerambycidae: Dectes sayi (Soybean Stem Borer) [larvae bore through stems of this plant] WR2017, Dectes texanus [larvae bore through stems of this plant] WR2017; Chrysomelidae: Brachypnoea clypealis Clk2004, Calligrapha bidenticola (White-striped Leaf Beetle) Clk2004 WR2017, Ophraella communa (Common Ragweed Leaf Beetle) [the preferred host plant, adults & larvae feed on foliage] Clk2004 WR2017, Sumitrosis inaequalis [larvae are leaf-miners] Eis2016, Zygogramma suturalis (Ragweed Leaf Beetle) Clk2004 Msh2006 WR2017; Curculionidae: Cylindrocopturus adspersus (Sunflower Stem Weevil) [adults feed on leaves & stems, larvae bore through stems & root crown] CG2011, Smicronyx amoenus [feeds on this plant] WR2017, Smicronyx corniculatus OA1996, Smicronyx tesselatus [feeds on this plant] WR2017; Mordellidae: Mordellistena aspersa [larvae bore through stems] FJ1996, Mordellistena convicta [larvae bore through stems] FJ1996, Mordellistena unicolor [larvae bore through stems] FJ1996
Diptera (Flies)
Agromyzidae: Agromyza subnigripes [leaf-miner, polyphagous] Ndm1928, Calycomyza ambrosiae [larvae are blotch leaf-miners; found in Indiana & Tennessee] SS1986 WR2017, Calycomyza jucunda [leaf-miner, polyphagous] Ndm1928, Chromatomyia syngenesiae (Chrysanthemum Leafminer) Ndm1928, Ophiomyia texana [stem-borer, polyphagous] Ndm1928, Phytomyza minuscula [leaf-miner] Ndm1928; Tephritidae: Euaresta bella [oligophagous, larvae feed on this plant] Msh2006 WR2017
Heteroptera (True Bugs)
Coreidae: Piezogaster calcarator BS1986; Miridae: Microtechnites bractatus (Garden Fleahopper) [feeds on this plant] WR2017, Plagiognathus politus [feeds on this plant] WR2017, Polymerus basalis (Red-spotted Aster Mirid) SSS1984, Reuteroscopus ornatus (Ornate Plant Bug) [feeds on this plant] WR2017, Slaterocoris stygicus [feeds on this plant] WR2017, Taylorilygus apicalis (Broken-backed Bug) SSS1984; Pentatomidae: Holcostethus limbolarius Rid2009
Homoptera (Sucking Insects)
Acanaloniidae: Acanalonia bivittata (Two-striped Planthopper) [polyphagous, feeds on this plant] WR2017; Aphididae: Capitophorus jopepperi [found in North Carolina] BE2013, Pleotrichophorus wasatchii Pp1965, Uroleucon ambrosiae (Brown Ambrosia Aphid) Pp1965, Uroleucon tuataiae Pp1965; Cicadellidae: Empoasca erigeron [polyphagous] DD2010; Membracidae: Acutalis tartarea [found on stems] WR2017, Campylenchia latipes [polyphagous] Den1952, Ceresa bubalus (Buffalo Treehopper) [polyphagous, found on stems, syn. Ceresa alta] Den1952 WR2017, Entylia carinata [found on lower midvein of leaves & attended by ants] WR2017, Hadrophallus borealis [polyphagous] Den1952, Publilia concava [found on lower midvein of leaves & attened by ants] WR2017, Stictocephala taurina [polyphagous] Den1952, Tortistilus inermis Den1952; Pseudococcidae: Phenacoccus solenopsis (Solenopsis Mealybug) [feeds on foliage & sometimes roots, polyphagous; widespread] SN2014, Pseudococcus sorghiellus (Trochanter Mealybug) [polyphagous; this insect is widely distributed in eastern USA] SN2014
Hymenoptera (Bees, Wasps, Ants, & Sawflies)
Formicidae: Camponotus pennsylvanicus (Black Carpenter Ant) [this ant feeds on honeydew of some treehoppers that feed on this plant] WR2017, Crematogaster cerasi [this ant feeds on honeydew of some treehoppers that feed on this plant] WR2017, Formica incerta (Uncertain Field Ant) [this ant feeds on honeydew of some treehoppers that feed on this plant] WR2017, Formica subsericea (Silky Field Ant) [this ant feeds on honeydew of some treehoppers that feed on this plant] WR2017, Lasius alienus (Cornfield Ant) [this ant feeds on honeydew of some treehoppers that feed on this plant] WR2017, Lasius neoniger (Turfgrass Ant) [this ant feeds on honeydew of some treehoppers that feed on this plant] WR2017, Myrmica latifrons [this ant feeds on honeydew of some treehoppers that feed on this plant, syn. Myrmica emeryana] WR2017, Prenolepis imparis (False Honey Ant) [this ant feeds on honeydew of some treehoppers that feed on this plant] WR2017, Tapinoma sessile (Odorous House Ant) [this ant feeds on honeydew of some treehoppers that feed on this plant] WR2017
Lepidoptera (Butterflies, Skippers, & Moths)
Arctiidae: Spilosoma virginica (Virginia Tiger Moth) [polyphagous] Mch1919; Bucculatricidae: Bucculatrix agnella [larvae are leafminers] NHM2010, Bucculatrix ambrosiaefoliella [larvae are leafminers] Ndm1928 NHM2010; Gelechiidae: Dichomeris juncidella [this leaf-folding moth is found in fields] Lf1994 NHM2010, Helcystogramma chambersella NHM2010; Geometridae: Synchlora aerata (Wavy-lined Emerald) [larvae feed on flowers] NHM2010; Gracillariidae: Cremastobombycia ambrosiaeella [larvae are tentiform leaf-miners; syn. Cremastobombycia ambrosiella] Mic2010 Ndm1928 NHM2010; Noctuidae: Papaipema nebris (Stalk Borer Moth) [polyphagous] NHM2010, Peridroma saucia (Variegated Cutworm) [polyphagous] NHM2010, Ponometia candefacta (Olive-shaded Bird-dropping Moth) [larvae prefer to feed on flowers; syn. Tarachidia candefacta] NHM2010, Ponometia erastrioides (Small Bird-dropping Moth) [larvae prefer to feed on flowers; syn. Tarachidia erastrioides] Msh2006 NHM2010, Schinia rivulosa (Ragweed Flower Moth) NHM2010; Pterophoridae: Adaina ambrosiae (Ragweed Plume Moth) [larvae feed on leaves] NHM2010, Hellinsia inquinatus (Black-marked Plume Moth) [syn. Oidaematophorus inquinatus] NHM2010; Tischeriidae: Astrotischeria ambrosiaeella [larvae are leaf-miners] NHM2010; Tortricidae: Epiblema otiosana (Bidens Borer Moth) [larvae bore through stems] NHM2010, Epiblema strenuana (Ragweed Borer Moth) [larvae bore into terminal stems, forming galls] NHM2010
Orthoptera (Grasshoppers)
Acrididae: Hesperotettix speciosus (Western Grass-Green Grasshopper) Jor1985, Melanoplus angustipennis (Narrow-winged Sand Grasshopper) Jor1985, Melanoplus femurrubrum (Red-Legged Grasshopper) [feeds on flowerheads, field observations] Ggw1961 Jor1985, Melanoplus flavidus (Yellowish Spur-throated Grasshopper) [minor host plant] Jor1985, Melanoplus gladstoni (Gladston's Grasshopper) [minor host plant] Jor1985