Insects Feeding
on these Plants:
____________
Cirsium spp. (Thistle) [Asteraceae]
(Observations are from Funkhouser, Milne & Milne, Barnes, Wyoming Agr. Exp. Sta., Microleps website, Hottes & Frison, Rider, Wagner, Marshall, Covell, Cranshaw, Blackman & Eastop, Brust et al., Miller, Pepper, Charlet & Gavloski, Majka et al., Natural History Museum, Wilhelm & Rericha, and Nakahara)
Coleoptera (Beetles)
Chrysomelidae: Cassida rubiginosa [introduced into N. America from Europe] Msh2006; Curculionidae: Barynotus moerens [polyphagous; larvae feed on roots; this Eurasian insect is found in Nova Scotia] MAM2007, Lixus concavus (Rhubarb Weevil) [larvae bore through stems] MM1980; Scarabaeidae: Euphoria inda (Bumble Flower Beetle) [adults feed on flowers] Crw2004
Heteroptera (True Bugs)
Miridae: Poecilocapsus lineatus (Four-lined Plant Bug) [feeds on plant sap of foliage] WR2017; Pentatomidae: Cosmopepla lintneriana [polyphagous] Rid2009, Holcostethus limbolarius [polyphagous] Rid2009
Homoptera (Sucking Insects)
Aphididae: Aphis fabae (Black Bean Aphid) [polyphagous, found on upper stems & leaves, sucks plant sap] Pp1965 WR2017, Aphis nasturtii (Buckthorn Aphid) Crw2004, Brachycaudus cardui (Thistle Aphid) [found on stems & leaves] Crw2004 BE2013 Pp1965, Brachycaudus helichrysi (Leafcurl Plum Aphid) Crw2004, Capitophorus elaeagni (Artichoke Aphid) [found on leaf undersides of shrubs in the Eleagnaceae, migrating during the summer to the leaf undersides of thistle-like herbaceous plants in the Asteraceae] Crw2004 BE2013 Pp1965, Capitophorus flaveola HF1931, Uroleucon ambrosiae HF1931 [possible misidentification], Uroleucon cirsii (Large Thistle Aphid) [found on upper parts of stems & upper leaves; introduced into North America from Europe, oligophagous] Msh2006 BE2013; Membracidae: Entylia bactriana [preferred host plants] Fnk1917, Entylia carinata [sucks plant sap from leaf undersides] Msh2006 WR2017
Hymenoptera (Bees, Wasps, Ants, & Sawflies)
Formicidae: Campanotus pennsylvanicus [feeds on honeydew secreted by the treehopper, Entylia carinata, when the latter feeds on thistles] WR2017, Formica subsericea [feeds on honeydew secreted by the treehopper, Entylia carinata, when the latter feeds on thistles] WR2017, Lasius alienus [feeds on honeydew secreted by the treehopper, Entylia carinata, when the latter feeds on thistles] WR2017, Prenolepis imparis [feeds on honeydew secreted by the treehopper, Entylia carinata, when the latter feeds on thistles] WR2017
Lepidoptera (Butterflies, Skippers, & Moths)
Arctiidae: Grammia parthenice (Parthenice Tiger Moth) Cv2005; Choreutidae: Tebenna carduiella [larvae are stem-borers] Mic2010; Noctuidae: Anagrapha falcifera (Celery Looper Moth) [polyphagous] NHM2010, Autographa precationis (Common Looper Moth) [polyphagous] Cv2005 Wg2005 NHM2010, Orthodes cynica (Cynical Quaker) NHM2010, Papaipema arctivorens (Northern Burdock Borer Moth) [larvae bore through roots] Cv2005 NHM2010, Papaipema cataphracta (Burdock Borer Moth) NHM2010, Papaipema nebris (Stalk Borer Moth) [polyphagous] NHM2010, Peridroma saucia (Variegated Cutworm) [polyphagous] NHM2010, Phlogophora iris (Olive Angle Shades) Cv2005 Msh2006; Nymphalidae: Vanessa cardui (Painted Lady) [larvae feed on leaves, polyphagous] Bar1999 MM1980 Wg2005 CG2001 NHM2010 WR2017; Pterophoridae: Platyptilia carduidactyla (Artichoke Plume Moth) [larvae eat foliage & young flowerheads] Crw2004 Cv2005 MM1980 NHM2010; Pyralidae: Dicymolomia julianalis [polyphagous] Cv2005, Homoeosoma electellum (Sunflower Moth) [larvae feed on flowerheads] NHM2010, Pyrausta subsequalis (Thistle Snout Moth) Cv2005 NHM2010; Scythrididae: Scythris eboracensis [larvae form webs around flowerheads, possible reclassification into Rhamphura genus] Cv2005; Tortricidae: Hedya cyanana [larvae are leaf-rollers] NHM2010, Lobesia carduana [larvae feed on terminal growth] Mlr1987 NHM2010
Orthoptera (Grasshoppers)
Acrididae: Melanoplus borealis borealis (Northern Grasshopper) [this grasshopper is often found in moist meadows] Wy1994 BHW2008
Thysanoptera (Thrips)
Thripidae: Thrips trehernei [polyphagous] Nk1994