Insects Feeding
on these Plants:
____________
Xanthium spp. (Cocklebur) [Asteraceae]
(observations are from Knight, Marshall, Rider, Blackman & Eastop, Miller, Spencer & Steyskal, Natural History Museum)
Coleoptera (Beetles)
Curculionidae: Rhodobaenus tredecimpunctatus (Cocklebur Weevil) Msh2006
Diptera (Flies)
Agromyzidae: Liriomyza trifolii [larvae are leaf-miners, polyphagous; widespread in E USA] SS1986
Heteroptera (True Bugs)
Miridae: Ilnacora stalii Kn1941; Pentatomidae: Euschistus servus (Brown Stink Bug) [polyphagous] Rid2009
Homoptera (Sucking Insects)
Aphididae: Capitophorus xanthii [found on Elaeagnus spp. & possibly other shrubs in the Oleaster family as primary hosts, migrating during the summer to Xanthium spp.] BE2013, Uroleucon ambrosiae [possible misidentification of aphid species, which is normally found on the flowering stems of ragweed; this aphid is distributed in E USA & N USA] BE2013
Lepidoptera (Butterflies, Skippers, & Moths)
Cosmopterigidae: Teladoma helianthi [larvae are blotch leaf-miners] NHM2010; Noctuidae: Euxoa detersa (Sandhill Cutworm) [larvae feed on roots & underground stems] NHM2010, Feltia subterranea (Granulate Cutworm) [polyphagous; this moth is found mostly south of Illinois] NHM2010; Pyralidae: Ostrinia obumbratalis (Smartweed Borer Moth) NHM2010; Tortricidae: Epiblema strenuana (Ragweed Borer Moth) [larvae bore in stems & terminal branches, forming galls] Mlr1987 NHM2010, Phaneta ochrocephala (Pale-headed Phaneta) [larvae feed on seeds; syn. Eucosma ochrocephala] Mlr1987 NHM2010