Insects Feeding
on Thistles
(Cirsium spp.)


Insect Species
Scientific Name &
Common Name (if any)
Insect Family
Cassida rubiginosa*Chrysomelidae
(Leaf Beetles)
Lema cyanella*Chrysomelidae
(Leaf Beetles)
Oulema palustrisChrysomelidae
(Leaf Beetles)
Baris subsimilis**Curculionidae
(Weevils)
Cleonis piger* **Curculionidae
(Weevils)
Hadroplontus litura* §
(syn. Ceutorhynchus litura)
Curculionidae
(Weevils)
Larinus planus* ***Curculionidae
(Weevils)
Lixus concavus**
(Rhubarb Weevil)
Curculionidae
(Weevils)
Rhinocyllus conicus* ***Curculionidae
(Weevils)
Brachycaudus cardui
(Thistle Aphid)
Aphididae
(Aphids)
Brachycaudus helichrysi
(Leafcurl Plum Aphid)
Aphididae
(Aphids)
Capitophorus elaeagni
(Artichoke Aphid)
Aphididae
(Aphids)
Capitophorus flaveolaAphididae
(Aphids)
Uroleucon ambrosiaeAphididae
(Aphids)
Uroleucon cirsii*Aphididae
(Aphids)
Entylia bactrianaMembracidae
(Treehoppers)
Entylia carinataMembracidae
(Treehoppers)
Philaenus spumarius
(Meadow Spittlebug)
Cercopidae
(Spittlebugs)
Adelphocoris rapidus
(Rapid Plant Bug)
Miridae
(Plant Bugs)
Poecilocapsus lineatus
(Four-Lined Plant Bug)
Miridae
(Plant Bugs)
Cosmopepla bimaculata
(Two-Spotted Stink Bug)
Pentatomidae
(Stink Bugs)
Cosmopepla lintnerianaPentatomidae
(Stink Bugs)
Euschistus servus
(Brown Stink Bug)
Pentatomidae
(Stink Bugs)
Euschistus variolarius
(One-Spotted Stink Bug)
Pentatomidae
(Stink Bugs)
Holcostethus limbolariusPentatomidae
(Stink Bugs)
Corimelaena pulicariusThyreocoridae
(Black Bugs)
Corythucha distincta
(Distinct Lace Bug)
Tingidae
(Lace Bugs)
Dasineura gibsoni §§Cecidomyiidae
(Gall Flies)
Terellia ruficauda* ***Tephritidae
(Fruit Flies)
Urophora cardui* **
(Canada Thistle Gall Fly)
Tephritidae
(Fruit Flies)
Melanoplus borealis borealis
(Northern Grasshopper)
Acrididae
(Grasshoppers)
Melanoplus differentialis
(Differential Grasshopper)
Acrididae
(Grasshoppers)
Melanoplus sanguinipes
(Migratory Grasshopper)
Acrididae
(Grasshoppers)
Frankliniella tritici
(Eastern Flower Thrips)
Thripidae
(Thrips)

*introduced from Europe to control Cirsium arvense (Canada Thistle)
**larvae bore through stems and/or roots
***larvae feed on flowers, buds, and/or seeds
§ larvae are leaf-miners, adults feed on stems
§§ larvae feed on hair tufts of seeds

Note: Lepidoptera have been excluded from this table.

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