Insects Feeding
on these Plants:
____________
Carduus spp. (Musk Thistle) [Asteraceae]
(Observations are from Milne & Milne, Rider, Blackman & Eastop, Charlet & Gavloski, Natural History Museum)
Heteroptera (True Bugs)
Pentatomidae: Euschistus variolaria Rid2009
Homoptera (Sucking Insects)
Aphididae: Brachycaudus cardui (Thistle Aphid) [found on stems & leaves] BE2013, Capitophorus elaeagni [found on leaf undersides of shrubs in the Elaeagnaceae, migrating to the leaf undersides of thistle-like species in the Asteraceae during the summer] BE2013
Lepidoptera (Butterflies, Skippers, & Moths)
Choreutidae: Tebenna carduiella [larvae bore through stems] NHM2010; Noctuidae: Phlogophora iris (Olive Angle Shades) [polyphagous] NHM2010; Nymphalidae: Vanessa cardui (Painted Lady) [larvae feed on foliage, polyphagous] CG2011; Pterophoridae: Platyptilia carduidactylus (Artichoke Plume Moth) [larvae feed on foliage & young flowerheads; syn. Platyptilia carduidactyla] MM1980 NHM2010; Pyralidae: Pyrausta subsequalis [larvae feed on flowerheads] NHM2010; Scythrididae: Scythris eboracensis [larvae form webs around flowerheads] NHM2010; Tortricidae: Lobesia carduana [larvae feed on terminal growth] NHM2010