Insects Feeding
on Asters
(Symphyotrichum spp., etc.)




Insect & Family Names
(Scientific & Common)

Mecas pergrata *
(no common name)
Cerambycidae (Long-horned Beetles)

Brachypnoea clypealis
(no common name)
Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles)

Chrysolina flavomarginata
(no common name)
Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles)

Exema canadensis
(no common name)
Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles)

Microrhopala excavata **
(no common name)
Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles)

Microrhopala xerene **
(no common name)
Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles)

Ophraella americana
(no common name)
Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles)

Ophraella pilosa
(no common name)
Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles)

Paria thoracica
(no common name)
Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles)

Sumitrosis inaequalis **
(no common name)
Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles)

Anthonomus lecontei
(no common name)
Curculonidae (Weevils)

Anthonomus molochinus
(no common name)
Curculionidae (Weevils)

Listronotus sparsus
(no common name)
Curculionidae (Weevils)

Mordellistena aspersa *
(no common name)
Mordellidae (Tumbling Flower Beetles)

Mordellistena convicta *
(no common name)
Mordellidae (Tumbling Flower Beetles)

Mordellistena pustulata *
(no common name)
Mordellidae (Tumbling Flower Beetles)

Amauromyza maculosa **
(no common name)
Agromyzidae (Leaf-miner Flies)

Calycomyza humeralis **
(Aster Leafminer Fly)
Agromyzidae (Leaf-miner Flies)

Calycomyza jucunda **
(no common name)
Agromyzidae (Leaf-miner Flies)

Calycomyza platyptera **
(no common name)
Agromyzidae (Leaf-miner Flies)

Calycomyza promissa **
(no common name)
Agromyzidae (Leaf-miner Flies)

Liriomyza eupatorii **
(no common name)
Agromyzidae (Leaf-miner Flies)

Nemorimyza posticata **
(no common name)
Agromyzidae (Leaf-miner Flies)

Ophiomyia quinta **
(no common name)
Agromyzidae (Leaf-miner Flies)

Ophiomyia texana **
(no common name)
Agromyzidae (Leaf-miner Flies)

Phytomyza albiceps **
(no common name)
Agromyzidae (Leaf-miner Flies)

Asphondylia monacha »»»
(Nun Midge)
Cecidomyiidae (Gall Flies)

Asphondylia recondita ***
(no common name)
Cecidomyiidae (Gall Flies)

Asteromyia carbonifera ***
(Black Blister Gall Midge)
Cecidomyiidae (Gall Flies)

Asteromyia clarkei ***
(no common name)
Cecidomyiidae (Gall Flies)

Asteromyia laeviana ***
(Papery Blister Gall Midge)
Cecidomyiidae (Gall Flies)

Asteromyia modesta ***
(Horseweed Blister Midge)
Cecidomyiidae (Gall Flies)

Neolasioptera ramuscula §
(Aster Stem Gall Midge)
Cecidomyiidae (Gall Flies)

Rhopalomyia astericaulis §
(no common name)
Cecidomyiidae (Gall Flies)

Rhopalomyia asteriflorae ¶¶¶
(no common name)
Cecidomyiidae (Gall Flies)

Rhopalomyia lateriflori »»
(no common name)
Cecidomyiidae (Gall Flies)

Campiglossa albiceps
(no common name)
Tephritidae (Fruit Flies)

Tomoplagia obliqua
(no common name)
Tephritidae (Fruit Flies)

Trupanea actinobola
(no common name)
Tephritidae (Fruit Flies)

Lygus lineolaris
(Tarnished Plant Bug)
Miridae (Plant Bugs)

Lygus rubroclarus
(no common name)
Miridae (Plant Bugs)

Macrotylus amoenus
(no common name)
Miridae (Plant Bugs)

Macrotylus sexguttatus
(no common name)
Miridae (Plant Bugs)

Plagiognathus cuneatus
(no common name)
Miridae (Plant Bugs)

Polymerus basalis
(Red-spotted Aster Mirid)
Miridae (Plant Bugs)

Psallus astericola
(no common name)
Miridae (Plant Bugs)

Taylorilygus apicalis
(Broken-backed Bug)
Miridae (Plant Bugs)

Trichopepla semivittata
(no common name)
Pentatomidae (Stink Bugs)

Corythucha marmorata
(Goldenrod Lace Bug)
Tingidae (Lace Bugs)

Acuticauda asterensis §§
(no common name)
Aphididae (Aphids)

Aphis fabae
(Black Bean Aphid)
Aphididae (Aphids)

Aphis middletonii §§§
(Erigeron Root Aphid)
Aphididae (Aphids)

Aulacorthum circumflexum
(Crescent-marked Lily Aphid)
Aphididae (Aphids)

Brachycauda helichrysi §§ ¶
(Leafcurl Plum Aphid)
Aphididae (Aphids)

Illinoia goldamaryae §§
(no common name)
Aphididae (Aphids)

Macrosiphoniella tanacetaria §§ ¶
(no common name)
Aphididae (Aphids)

Macrosiphum euphorbiae
(Potato Aphid)
Aphididae (Aphids)

Macrosiphum olmsteadi
(no common name)
Aphididae (Aphids)

Macrosiphum pallidum
(no common name)
Aphididae (Aphids)

Pleotrichophorus asterifoliae §§
(no common name)
Aphididae (Aphids)

Prociphilus erigeronensis §§§
(White Aster Root Aphid)
Aphididae (Aphids)

Uroleucon anomalae
(no common name)
Aphididae (Aphids)

Uroleucon astronomus
(no common name)
Aphididae (Aphids)

Uroleucon bradburyi
(no common name)
Aphididae (Aphids)

Uroleucon crepusisiphon
(no common name)
Aphididae (Aphids)

Uroleucon erigeronense
(Large Fleabane Aphid)
Aphididae (Aphids)

Uroleucon gravicorne
(no common name)
Aphididae (Aphids)

Uroleucon macgillivrayae
(no common name)
Aphididae (Aphids)

Uroleucon olivei §§
(no common name)
Aphididae (Aphids)

Uroleucon paucosensoriatum §§ ¶
(no common name)
Aphididae (Aphids)

Empoasca alboneura
(no common name)
Cicadellidae (Leafhoppers)

Empoasca curvata
(no common name)
Cicadellidae (Leafhoppers)

Macrosteles  fascifrons
(Aster Leafhopper)
Cicadellidae (Leafhoppers)

Aonidomytilus solidaginis §§
(Goldenrod Scale)
Diaspididae (Armored Scales)

Rhizaspidiotus dearnessi
(Dearness Scale)
Diaspididae (Armored Scales)

Stictocephala bisonia
(Buffalo Treehopper)
Membracidae (Treehoppers)

Dysmicoccus lasii
(Ant Nest Mealybug)
Pseudococcidae (Mealybugs)

Hypogeococcus barbarae
(Rau Mealybug)
Pseudococcidae (Mealybugs)

Pseudococcus sorghiellus
(Trochanter Mealybug)
Pseudococcidae (Mealybugs)

Spilococcus geraniae §§
(Geranium Mealybug)
Pseudococcidae (Mealybugs)

Pyrrharctia isabella
(Isabella Tiger Moth)
Arctiidae (Tiger Moths)

Bucculatrix angustata **
(no common name)
Bucculatricidae (Ribbed Cocoon-maker Moths)

Bucculatrix cuneigera **
(no common name)
Bucculatricidae (Ribbed Cocoon-maker Moths)

Bucclatrix staintonella **
(no common name)
Bucculatricidae (Ribbed Cocoon-maker Moths)

Coleophora annulicola **
(no common name)
Coleophoridae (Case-bearer Moths)

Coleophora duplicis ¶¶¶
(no common name)
Coleophoridae (Case-bearer Moths)

Coleophora ericoides ¶¶¶
(no common name)
Coleophoridae (Case-bearer Moths)

Coleophora granifera
(no common name)
Coleophoridae (Case-bearer Moths)

Dichomeris agonia ¶¶
(no common name)
Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)

Dichomeris bilobella ¶¶
(Bilobed Dichomeris)
Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)

Dichomeris flavocostella ¶¶
(Cream-edged Dichomeris)
Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)

Dichomeris juncidella ¶¶
(no common name)
Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)

Dichomeris leuconotella ¶¶
(no common name)
Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)

Dichomeris levisella ¶¶
(no common name)
Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)

Dichomeris nonstrigella ¶¶
(no common name)
Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)

Dichomeris ochripalpella ¶¶
(Shining Dichomeris)
Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)

Gnorimoschema galleasterella §
(no common name)
Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)

Gnorimoschema subterranea ¤
(no common name)
Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)

Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria ¶¶¶
(Blackberry Looper Moth)
Geometridae (Geometer Moths)

Eupithecia miserulata ¶¶¶
(Common Pug)
Geometridae (Geometer Moths)

Eusarca confusaria
(Confused Eusarca)
Geometridae (Geometer Moths)

Pleuroprucha insularia ¶¶¶
(Common Tan Wave)
Geometridae (Geometer Moths)

Scopula inductata
(Soft-lined Wave)
Geometridae (Geometer Moths)

Synchlora aerata ¶¶¶
(Wavy-lined Emerald)
Geometridae (Geometer Moths)

Tornos scolopacinarius
(Dimorphic Gray)
Geometridae (Geometer Moths)

Acrocercops astericola **
(no common name)
Gracillariidae (Leaf-blotch Miner Moths)

Parectopa pennsylvaniella **
(no common name)
Gracillariidae (Leaf-blotch Miner Moths)

Acharia stimulea
(Saddleback Caterpillar)
Limacodidae (Slug Caterpillar Moths)

Agnorisma badinodis
(Pale-banded Dart)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Allagrapha aerea
(Unspotted Looper Moth)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Condica videns ¶¶¶
(White-dotted Groundling)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Ctenoplusia oxygramma
(Sharp-stigma Looper Moth)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Cucullia asteroides ¶¶¶
(The Asteroid)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Cucullia convexipennis ¶¶¶
(Brown-hooded Owlet)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Diachrysia aereoides
(Dark-spotted Looper Moth)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)


Euplexia benesimilis
(American Angle Shades)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Eupsilia devia
(Lost Sallow)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Feltia jaculifera
(Dingy Cutworm Moth)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Heliothis turbatus ¶¶¶
(Spotted Straw)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Leuconycta diphteroides
(Green Leuconycta)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Melanchra assimilis
(Black Arches)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Palthis angulalis
(Dark-spotted Palthis)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Papaipema cataphracta *
(Burdock Borer Moth)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Papaipema impecuniosa *
(Aster Borer Moth)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Pseudorthodes vecors
(Small Brown Quaker)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Schinia arcigera ¶¶¶
(Arcigera Flower Moth)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Schinia nundina ¶¶¶
(Goldenrod Flower Moth)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Schinia septentrionalis ¶¶¶
(Northern Flower Moth)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Trichordestra legitima
(Striped Garden Caterpillar)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Chlosyne harrisii ¤¤
(Harris' Checkerspot)
Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)

Chlosyne nycteis
(Silvery Checkerspot)
Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)

Phyciodes batesii ¤¤¤
(Tawny Crescent)
Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)

Phyciodes cocyta
(Northern Crescent)
Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)

Phyciodes tharos
(Pearl Crescent)
Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)

Carmenta corni *
(Aster Borer Moth)
Sesiidae (Clear-winged Moths)

Asymmetrura impositella **
(no common name)
Scythrididae (Flower Moths)

Astrotischeria astericola **
(no common name)
Tischeriidae (Trumpet Leaf-miner Moths)

Eucosma robinsonana *
(no common name)
Tortricideae (Tortrix Moths)

Phaneta essexana *
(Essex Phaneta)
Tortricidae (Tortrix Moths)

Phaneta parmatana ¶¶¶
(no common name)
Tortricidae (Tortrix Moths)

Phaneta tomonana ¶¶¶
(Aster-head Phaneta)
Tortricidae (Tortrix Moths)

Sonia canadana *
(Canadian Sonia)
Tortricidae (Tortrix Moths)

Sparganothis reticulatana
(no common name)
Tortricidae (Tortrix Moths)

Arphia simplex
(Plains Yellow-winged Grasshopper)
Acrididae (Grasshoppers)

Hesperotettix viridis
(Meadow Purple-striped Grasshopper)
Acrididae (Grasshoppers)

Melanoplus bivittatus
(Two-striped Grasshopper)
Acrididae (Grasshoppers)

Melanoplus confusus
(Little Pasture Grasshopper)
Acrididae (Grasshoppers)

Melanoplus femurrubrum
(Red-legged Grasshopper)
Acrididae (Grasshoppers)

Melanoplus foedus
(Striped Sand Grasshopper)
Acrididae (Grasshoppers)

Melanoplus keeleri luridus
(Keeler's Grasshopper)
Acrididae (Grasshoppers)

Melanoplus scudderi
(Scudder's Short-winged Grasshopper)
Acrididae (Grasshoppers)

Pardalophora haldemani
(Haldeman's Grasshopper)
Acrididae (Grasshoppers)

Syrbula admirabilis
(Handsome Grasshopper)
Acrididae (Grasshoppers)

Conocephalus brevipennis »
(Short-winged Meadow Katydid)
Tettigoniidae (Katydids)

Scudderia furcata »
(Fork-tailed Bush Katydid)
Tettigoniidae (Katydids)

Manomera blatchleyi
(Blatchley's Walkingstick)
Diapheromeridae (Diapheromerid Walkingsticks)

Thrips trehernei
(no common name)
Thripidae (Thrips)



* larvae bore through stems and/or roots
** larvae are leaf-miners,
*** larvae form galls on leaves
§ larvae form galls on stems,
§§ found on leaves and/or stems
§§§ found on roots, ¶ found on inflorescences
¶¶ larvae are leaf-folders
¶¶¶ larvae feed on flowers and/or seeds
» feeds on flowerheads, »» larvae form bud galls
»»» larvae form galls or deformities on flowers
¤ larvae form galls on roots and/or lower stems
¤¤ Doellingeria umbellata (Flat-topped Aster)
is the primary host plant
¤¤¤ Symphyotrichum undulatum (Wavy-leaved Aster)
is the primary host plant


Note: Asters (Aster spp.) in North America
have been divided into Symphyotrichum spp.,
Eurybia spp.
, Doellingeria spp., etc.

Sources: Yanega (1996), Clark et al. (2004),
Majka et al. (2007), Spender & Steyskal (1986),
Felt (1917), Marshall (2006), Milne & Milne (1980),
Wheeler et al. (1983), Knight (1941),
Rider website (2009), Blackman & Eastop (2013),
Robinson & Bradley (1965), Cranshaw (2004),
Pepper (1965), Hottes & Frison (1931),
Dmitriev & Dietrich website (2010),
ScaleNet website (2014), Covell (1984/2005),
Needham et al. (1928), Loeffler (1994),
Funkhouser (1917), Wagner (2005),
Microleps website (2010), Panzer et al. (2006),
Miller (1987), Vickery & Kevan (1985),
Arment (2006), Nakahara (1994), Gangwere (1961),
Opler & Krizek (1984), Snodgrass et al. (1984),
Aldrich & Osten Sacken (1905), Ford & Jackman (1996),
Braun (1919), Stireman et al. (2010),
Campbell et al. (1974)

Return