Insects Feeding
on these Plants
____________
Ambrosia spp. (Ragweed) [Asteraceae]
(Observations are from Vestal, Milne & Milne, Arnett & Jacques, Vaurie, Dmitriev & Dietrich, Knight, Yanega, Rider, Wagner, Marshall, Covell, Clark et al., Cranshaw, Felt, Blackman & Eastop, Watson, Hamilton, Vickery & Kevan, Miller, Charlet & Gavloski, Spencer & Steyskal, Natural History Museum, ScaleNet)
Coleoptera (Beetles)
Carabidae: Harpalus caliginosus [eats seeds] Vst1913; Cerambycidae: Dectes sayi [larvae bore through stems] Vst1913 Ya1996, Dectes texanus [larvae bore through stems] Ya1996, Hippopsis lemniscata [larvae bore through stems] Ya1996, Mecas cana saturnina [larvae bore through stems, Great Plains region] Ya1996; Chrysomelidae: Brachypnoea margaretae Clk2004, Exema canadensis Clk2004, Calligrapha californica Msh2006, Zygogramma suturalis AL1981; Curculionidae: Rhodobaenus quinquepunctatus Vau1983, Rhodobaenus tredecimpunctatus Vau1983; Languriidae: Acropteroxys gracilis [larvae are stem-borers] Msh2006
Diptera (Flies)
Agromyzidae: Calycomyza ambrosiae [larvae are blotch leaf-miners; found in Indiana & Tennessee] SS1986, Melanagromyza splendida [larvae are stem-borers; found in Michigan, New York, & areas south] SS1986
Heteroptera (True Bugs)
Miridae: Chlamydatus associatus Kn1941, Chlamydatus suavis Kn1941, Keltonia sulphurea Kn1941 Wat1928, Plagiognathus blatchleyi Kn1941, Plagiognathus nigronitens Kn1941, Plagiognathus politus [found in very moist to quite dry habitats] Kn1941 Wat1928, Reuteroscopus ornatus [found in exposed situations] Kn1941 Wat1928; Pentatomidae: Cosmopepla lintneriana [polyphagous] Rid2010, Murgantia histrionica (Calico Bug, Harlequin Bug) [polyphagous] MM1980
Homoptera (Sucking Insects)
Aphididae: Aphis helianthi (Sunflower Aphid) Crw2004, Prociphilus erigeronensis [found on the roots of many herbaceous plants in several plant families] BE2013, Uroleucon ambrosiae (Brown Ambrosia Aphid) [found on flowering stems] Crw2004 BE2013, Uroleucon tuataiae [found on leaf undersides & inflorescences, distributed in E. USA] BE2013; Cercopidae: Clastoptera xanthocephala (Sunflower Spittlebug) [as far north as Ohio & Maine] Hm1982; Cicadellidae: Empoasca erigeron [polyphagous] DD2010; Diaspididae: Rhizaspidiotus dearnessi (Dearness Scale) [found on plant crowns & stems, sometimes below the soil surface; mostly species in the Asteraceae are hosts of this insect; it is widely distributed in the USA, also occurring in Ontario] SN2014; Pseudococcidae: Chorizococcus dentatus (Yarrow Mealybug) [feeds on roots & crown; this insect is found in E USA & Canada] SN2014, Dysmicoccus lasii (Ant Nest Mealybug) [feeds on roots of host plant, attended by ants; found in eastern USA] SN2014, Phenacoccus solani (Solanum Mealybug) [found on lower leaves & roots, polyphagous; this insect has been found in Maryland & Virginia, although it occurs primarily in southern & western USA] SN2014
Hymenoptera (Bees, Wasps, & Sawflies)
Cynipidae: Aulacidea ambrosiaecola (Ragweed Stem Gall Wasp) [larvae form galls on stems] Flt1917
Lepidoptera (Butterflies, Skippers, & Moths)
Gelechiidae: Dichomeris juncidella [larvae are leaf-folders] NHM2010, Dichomeris washingtoniella [larvae are leaf-folders; one known host is Ambrosia artemisiifolia] NHM2010, Helcystogramma chambersella NHM2010; Geometridae: Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria (Blackberry Looper Moth) [larvae feed on flowers] NHM2010, Pleuroprucha insulsaria (Common Tan Wave) [larvae feed on flowers] Wg2005, Scopula inductata (Soft-lined Wave) Cv2005 NHM2010, Synchlora aerata (Wavy-lined Emerald) [larvae feed on flowers] Cv2005 Wg2005 NHM2010; Gracillariidae: Cremastobombycia ambrosiaeella [larvae are leaf-miners] NHM0210; Noctuidae: Lascoria ambigualis (Ambiguous Moth) [larvae feed on stalks] Cv2005, Ogdoconta cinereola (Common Pinkband) Cv2005, Papaipema cataphracta (Burdock Borer Moth) [larvae bore through stems, polyphagous] NHM2010, Papaipema nebris (Stalk Borer Moth) [polyphagous] NHM2010, Ponometia candefacta (Olive-shaded Bird-dropping Moth) [larvae prefer to feed on flowers; syn. Tarachidia candefacta] Cv2005 Wg2005 NHM2010, Ponometia erastrioides (Small Bird-dropping Moth) [larvae prefer to feed on flowers; syn. Tarachidia erastrioides] Cv2005 Wg2005 NHM2010, Schinia rivulosa (Ragweed Flower Moth) [larvae feed on flowers & developing seeds] Cv2005 Wg2005 NHM2010; Pyralidae: Ostrinia obumbratalis (Smartweed Borer Moth) NHM2010; Pterophoridae: Adaina ambrosiae (Ragweed Plume Moth) [larvae feed on leaves] NHM2010, Hellinsia inquinatus (Black-marked Plume Moth) [syn. Oidaematophorus inquinatus] NHM210; Tischeriidae: Astrotischeria ambrosiaeella [larvae are leaf-miners] NHM2010; Tortricidae: Choristoneura rosaceana (Oblique-banded Leafroller Moth) NHM2010, Epiblema otiosana (Bidens Borer Moth) [larvae bore through stems] Cv2005 NHM2010, Epiblema strenuana (Ragweed Borer Moth) [larvae bore through stems] Mlr1987 NHM2010, Suleima helianthana (Sunflower Bud Moth) [larvae feed in leaf axils, flower buds, & receptacles of flowerheads] CG2011
Orthoptera (Grasshoppers)
Acrididae: Hesperotettix viridis (Meadow Purple-striped Grasshopper) VK1985, Melanoplus angustipennis (Narrow-winged Sand Grasshopper) VK1985