Insects Feeding
on these Plants:
____________
Iris spp. (Iris) [Iridaceae]
(Observations are from Marshall, Hottes & Frison, Covell, Cranshaw, Felt, Blackman & Eastop, Pepper, Robinson & Bradley, Natural History Museum, ScaleNet)
Diptera (Flies)
Agromyzidae: Cerodontha magnicornis [larvae form galls on young leaves] Flt1917; Syrphidae: Eumerus strigatus (Onion Bulb Fly) [maggots feed on rhizomes] Crw2004, Eumerus tuberculatus (Lesser Bulb Fly) [maggots feed on rhizomes] Crw2004
Homoptera (Sucking Insects)
Aphididae: Dysaphis tulipae (Tulip Bulb Aphid) [found on shoots & leaves of growing plants, also found on underground stems & bulbs] Crw2004 BE2013, Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Potato Aphid) [polyphagous] Pp1965 RB1965, Macrosiphum gei (Avens Aphid) [polyphagous] HF1931, Rhopalosiphum padi (Bird Cherry & Oat Aphid) [rolls the leaves of Bird Cherry & Chokecherry, migrating during the summer to various grasses & iris; widely distributed in North America, including Illinois] BE2013; Pseudococcidae: Phenacoccus solani (Solanum Mealybug) [found on lower leaves & roots, polyphagous; this insect has been found in Maryland & Virginia, although it occurs primarily in southern and western USA] SN2014, Rhizoecus falcifer (Ground Mealybug) [feeds on rhizomes] Crw2004
Lepidoptera (Butterflies, Skippers, & Moths)
Arctiidae: Ctenucha virginica (Virginia Ctenucha) Cv2005 Msh2006 NHM2010; Noctuidae: Hydraecia micacea (Rosy Rustic) [bores into stems & roots, introduced into North America from Europe; one host is Iris pseudacorus] NHM2010, Macronoctua onusta (Iris Borer Moth) [larvae bore through corms & rhizomes] Crw2004 Cv2005 NHM2010, Papaipema cataphracta (Burdock Borer Moth) [polyphagous, bores into stems & roots] Cv2005 NHM2010, Papaipema nebris (Stalk Borer Moth) [polyphagous, bores into stems & roots] NHM2010, Xylena nupera (American Swordgrass Moth) NHM2010; Tortricidae: Endothenia hebesana (Verbena Bud Moth) [polyphagous] NHM2010
Thysanoptera (Thrips)
Thripidae: Frankliniella occidentalis (Western Flower Thrips) Crw2004