Insects Feeding
on these Plants:
____________
Melilotus spp. (Sweet Clover) [Fabaceae]
(Observations are from Funkhouser, Wagner, Knight, Dennis, Microleps website, Wyoming Agr. Exp. Sta., Clark et al., Dmitriev & Dietrich, Milne & Milne, Bouseman & Sternburg, Covell, Cranshaw, Blackman & Eastop, Watson, Vickery & Kevan, Brust et al., Spencer & Steyskal, Majka et al., Wilbur)
Coleoptera (Beetles)
Chrysomelidae: Cerotoma trifurcata Clk2004, Colaspis brunnea Clk2004; Curculionidae: Sitona cylindricollis [feeds on seeds; this Eurasian insect is widely distributed in North America] MAM2007, Tychius meliloti (Sweet Clover Weevil) [this Eurasian insect is found in SE & south-central Canada] MAM2007
Diptera (flies)
Agromyzidae: Agromyza frontella (Alfalfa Blotch Leafminer) [found in Massachusetts, New Jersey, & New York] SS1986
Heteroptera (True Bugs)
Miridae: Adelphocoris lineolatus (Alfalfa Plant Bug) [feeds on flowers & newly formed seeds] Kn1941, Poecilocapsus lineatus (Four-Lined Plant Bug) Wat1928
Homoptera (Sucking Insects)
Aphididae: Acyrthosiphon kondoi (Blue Alfalfa Aphid) [found on stems & leaves, introduced into North America from Asia] BE2013, Nearctaphis bakeri (Clover Aphid) [found on young leaves & flower buds of hawthorns & other shrubs in the Rosaceae, migrating during the summer to herbaceous plants in the Fabaceae & other plant families; widely distributed in North America, including Illinois] Crw2004 BE2013, Nearctaphis crataegifoliae [twists & curls leaves of hawthorns, turning them purple; migrating during the summer to herbaceous plants in the Fabaceae; this aphid is distributed in central & E USA] BE2013, Therioaphis riehmi (Sweet Clover Aphid) [found on leaf undersides, Melilotus spp. are preferred hosts; this Eurasian aphid has been introduced into NE USA, north-central USA, & Canada] BE2013, Therioaphis trifolii (Spotted Clover Aphid) [found on leaf undersides; this Eurasian aphid has been introduced into E USA & Canada, including Illinois & Quebec] BE2013; Cicadellidae: Empoasca alboneura DD2010, Empoasca erigeron [polyphagous] DD2010, Empoasca fabae [polyphagous] DD2010, Empoasca sativae DD2010, Endria inimica (Painted Leafhopper) [not preferred as a host plant] Wlb1954; Membracidae: Campylenchia latipes [polyphagous] Den1952, Ceresa bubalus (Buffalo Treehopper) [polyphagous] Den1952, Enchenopa binotata [polyphagous] Den1952, Hadrophallus borealis [polyphagous] Den1952, Pubilia concava [polyphagous] Den1952, Stictocephala diceros [polyphagous] Den1952, Stictocephala lutea Den1952, Stictocephala taurina [polyphagous] Den1952, Tortistylus inermis [polyphagous] Den1952 Fnk1917
Lepidoptera (Butterflies, Skippers, & Moths)
Arctiidae: Utetheisa bella (Bella Moth) MM1980; Cosmopterigidae: Walshia miscecolorella (Sweet Clover Root Borer) [larvae bore through stems & roots] Cv2005; Geometridae: Pleuroprucha insularia (Common Tan Wave) [larvae feed on flowers] Wg2005, Scopula inducata (Soft-Lined Wave) [polyphagous] Cv2005; Gracillariidae: Parectopa occulta [larvae are leaf-miners] Mic2010; Lycaenidae: Everes comyntas (Eastern Tailed Blue) Wg2005, Hemiargus isola (Reakirt's Blue) [larvae feed on buds & flowers] BS2001; Notodontidae: Dasylophia anguina (Black-Spotted Prominent) Wg2005; Pieridae: Colias philodice (Clouded Sulfur) Wg2005; Pyralidae: Nomophila nearctica [polyphagous] Cv2005
Orthoptera (Grasshoppers)
Acrididae: Melanoplus keeleri (Keeler's Grasshopper) [this grasshopper is found in prairies & weedy areas] BHW2008 Wy1994, Melanoplus packardii (Packard's Grasshopper) [this grasshopper is found in open areas with heavier soil, weedy roadsides, & tallgrass prairie] BHW2008 Wy1994, Schistocerca lineata (Spotted Bird Grasshopper) VK1985