Insects Feeding
on these Plants:
____________
Dichanthelium spp. (Panic Grass) [Poaceae]
(Originally these grasses were assigned to the Panicum genus. Observations are from Froeschner, Gangwere, Clark et al., DeLong, Hottes & Frison, Rider, Wagner, Bouseman et al., Needham et al., Felt, Blackman & Eastop, Wheeler et al., Harms & Grodowitz, Opler & Krizek, Spencer & Steyskal, Braun, Natural History Museum, Panzer et al., ScaleNet, Eiseman)
Coleoptera (Beetles)
Chrysomelidae: Chalepus bicolor [larvae are leaf-miners] Clk2004 Eis2016
Diptera (Flies)
Agromyzidae: Cerodontha dorsalis (Grass Sheath Miner) [larvae are leaf-miners, pupating in leaf-sheaths; widespread] SS1986; Cecidomyiidae: Calamomyia panici [adults oviposit in stems] Flt1917; Ephydridae: Hydrellia griseola (Lesser Rice Leafminer) [larvae mine leaves, this insect is found in wetland habitats] HG2009
Heteroptera (True Bugs)
Berytidae: Jalysus spinosus Fr1942, Jalysus wickhami Fr1942; Miridae: Collaria meilleurii WHM1983, Collaria oculata WHM1983; Pentatomidae: Mormidea lugens Rid2009
Homoptera (Sucking Insects)
Aphididae: Anoecia cornicola [found on dogwood shrubs as primary hosts, migrating during the summer to the roots of grasses] BE2013, Colopha ulmicola [forms elongated cockscomb-like galls on elm leaves, migrating during the summer to the upper leaves & stems of Eragrostis spp. & possibly other grasses] BE2013, Prociphilus erigeronensis HF1931, Sipha flava (Yellow Sugar Cane Aphid) [found on the leaf blades of various grasses & sedges; widely distributed in USA, including Illinois] BE2013; Cicadellidae: Flexamia areolata [prairie insect] Dlg1948, Polyamia herbida [this leafhopper is found in upland prairies & barrens; it has been found on Dichanthelium spp., rather than Panicum spp., as currently defined] Pnz2006, Polyamia rossi [this leafhopper is found in upland sand prairies & sandy savannas; it has been found on Dichanthelium spp., rather than Panicum spp., as currently defined] Pnz2006; Pseudococcidae: Chorizococcus rostellum (Bermuda Grass Mealybug) [feeds mostly on roots; this insect is found in SE USA as far north as Maryland & Tennessee] SN2014, Dysmicoccus junceus (Juncus Mealybug) [feeds on roots; this insect is widely distributed in NE & north-central USA] SN2014, Heterococcus nudus (Naked Grass Mealybug) [found on the crown & underneath leaf sheaths of host plants; this insect is widely distributed in northern USA & California] SN2014, Pseudantonina nakaharai (Nakahara Mealybug) [this insect has been found in sandy areas of New Jersey & Virginia] SN2014, Trionymus caricis (Carex Mealybug) [found underneath leaf sheaths; this insect occurs in Maryland, Massachusetts, Tennessee, & elsewhere in the USA] SN2014, Trionymus clandestinus [feeds on plant crowns & roots; this mealybug is found in NE USA; syn. Trionymus cladestinus] SN2014, Trionymus smithii (Smith Grass Mealybug) [found underneath leaf sheaths; this insect occurs in NE USA, California, & Mexico] SN2014
Lepidoptera (Butterflies, Skippers, & Moths)
Arctiidae: Ctenucha virginica (Virginia Ctenucha) NHM2010; Elachistidae: Elachista radiantella [larvae are leaf-miners; this moth is found throughout NE USA] Ndm1928 Br1948 NHM2010, Elachista solitaria [larvae are leaf-miners; this moth is found in Ohio & Kentucky] Ndm1928 Br1948 NHM2010; Hesperiidae: Ancyloxypha numitor (Least Skipper) [this insect is found in wetlands] NHM2010, Hesperia dacotae (Dakota Skipper) [this insect is found in upland prairies; extirpated in Illinois, it is found NW of the state] NHM2010, Hesperia sassacus (Indian Skipper) Bou2006 OK1984 NHM2010, Poanes hobomok (Hobomok Skipper) Bou2006 Wg2005 OK1984 NHM2010, Polites themistocles (Tawny-edged Skipper) [preferred host plants, smaller panic grasses are preferred] Bou2006 OK1984 NHM2010, Wallengrenia egremet (Northern Broken-Dash) [larger panic grasses are preferred] Bou2006 Wg2005 OK1984 NHM2010; Noctuidae: Mocis latipes (Small Mocis) NHM2010; Nymphalidae: Enodia anthedon (Northern Pearly Eye) NHM2010
Orthoptera (Grasshoppers)
Acrididae: Arphia sulphurea (Sulphur-Winged Grasshopper) [both field & lab observations] Ggw1961 Ggw1965; Tettigoniidae: Atlanticus testaceus (Protean Shieldback) [feeds on leaves and/or flowers, although not preferred as sources of food; lab observations] Ggw1967