Insects Feeding
on Thistles
(Cirsium spp.)
Insect & Family Names
(Scientific
& Common)
Cassida rubiginosa
(Thistle Tortoise Beetle)
Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles)
Oulema palustris
(no common name)
Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles)
Barynotus moerens *
(no common name)
Curculionidae (Weevils)
Larinus planus **
(Canada Thistle Bud Weevil)
Curculionidae (Weevils)
Lixus concavus ***
(Rhubarb Weevil)
Curculionidae (Weevils)
Rhinocyllus conicus **
(Thistle Head Weevil)
Curculionidae (Weevils)
Mordellistena aethiops ***
(no common name)
Mordellidae (Tumbling Flower Beetles)
Mordellistena pustulata ***
(no common name)
Mordellidae (Tumbling Flower Beetles)
Euphoria inda §
(Bumble Flower Beetle)
Scarabaeidae (Scarab Beetles)
Melanagromyza virens ***
(no common name)
Agromyzidae (Leaf-miner Flies)
Metopomyza scutellata §§
(no common name)
Agromyzidae (Leaf-miner Flies)
Dasineura gibsoni **
(Canada Thistle Midge)
Cecidomyiidae (Gall Flies)
Terellia ruficauda **
(Thistle Seed Maggot)
Tephritidae (Fruit Flies)
Urophora cardui §§§
(no common name)
Tephritidae (Fruit Flies)
Poecilocapsus lineatus
(Four-lined Plant Bug)
Miridae (Plant Bugs)
Cosmopepla lintneriana
(no common name)
Pentatomidae (Stink Bugs)
Euschistus servus
(Brown Stink Bug)
Pentatomidae (Stink Bugs)
Euschistus variolarius
(One-spotted Stink Bug)
Pentatomidae (Stink Bugs)
Holcostethus limbolarius
(no common name)
Pentatomidae (Stink Bugs)
Corimelaena pulicaria
(no common name)
Thyreocoridae (Ebony Bugs)
Aphis fabae ¶
(Black Bean Aphid)
Aphididae (Aphids)
Brachycaudus cardui ¶
(Thistle Aphid)
Aphididae (Aphids)
Brachycaudus helichrysi
(Leafcurl Plum Aphid)
Aphididae (Aphids)
Capitophorus elaeagni ¶¶
(Artichoke Aphid)
Aphididae (Aphids)
Uroleucon cirsii ¶
(Large Thistle Aphid)
Aphididae (Aphids)
Entylia bactriana
(no common name)
Membracidae (Treehoppers)
Entylia carinata
(no common name)
Membracidae (Treehoppers)
Pubilia concava
(no common name)
Membracidae (Treehoppers)
Stictocephala diceros
(no common name)
Membracidae (Treehoppers)
Corythucha distincta
(Distinct Lace Bug)
Tingidae (Lace Bugs)
Grammia parthenice
(Parthenice Tiger Moth)
Arctiidae (Tiger Moths)
Tebenna carduiella ***
(no common name)
Choreutidae (Metalmark Moths)
Anagrapha falcifera
(Celery Looper Moth)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
Autographa precationis
(Common Looper Moth)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
Orthodes cynica
(Cynical Quaker)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
Papaipema arctivorens *
(Northern Burdock Borer Moth)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
Papaipema cataphracta ***
(Burdock Borer Moth)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
Papaipema nebris ***
(Stalk Borer Moth)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
Peridroma saucia
(Variegated Cutworm)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
Phlogophora iris
(Olive Angle Shades)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
Vanessa cardui
(Painted Lady)
Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Platyptilia carduidactyla ¶¶¶
(Artichoke Plume Moth)
Pterophoridae (Plume Moths)
Dicymolomia julianalis
(no common name)
Pyralidae (Snout Moths)
Homoeosoma electellum **
(Sunflower Moth)
Pyralidae (Snout Moths)
Pyrausta subsequalis
(Thistle Snout Moth)
Pyralidae (Snout Moths)
Calephelis muticum ¤
(Swamp Metalmark)
Riodinidae (Metalmark Butterflies)
Scythris eboracensis **
(no common name)
Scythrididae (Flower Moths)
Hedya cyanana
(no common name)
Tortricidae (Tortrix Moths)
Lobesia carduana
(no common name)
Tortricidae (Tortrix Moths)
Campylacantha olivacea
(Fuzzy Olive-green Grasshopper)
Acrididae (Grasshoppers)
Dissosteira carolina
(Carolina Grasshopper)
Acrididae (Grasshoppers)
Melanoplus borealis
(Northern 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)
Thrips trehernei
(no common name)
Thripidae (Thrips)
* larvae feed on roots
** larvae feed on flowerheads & developing seeds
*** larvae bore through stems
§ adults feed on flowerheads
§§ larvae are leaf-miners
§§§ larvae form galls on stems
¶ sucks sap from upper stems & leaves
¶¶ sucks sap from leaf undersides
¶¶¶ larvae feed on foliage & young flowerheads
¤ prefers Cirsium muticum as host plant,
followed by Cirsium altissimum
Sources: Marshall (2006), Cranshaw (2004),
Milne & Milne (1980), Majka et al. (2007),
Wilhelm & Rericha (2017), Rider website (2009),
Blackman & Eastop (2013), Funkhauser (1917),
Wyoming Agr. Exp. Station (1994),
Clark et al. (2004), Marcovitch (1916),
Robinson & Bradley (1965), Gangwere (1961),
Needham et al. (1928), Campbell et al. (1974),
Ford & Jackman (1996), Dennis (1952),
Covell (1984/2005), Microleps website (2010),
Natural History Museum website (2010),
Nakahara (1994)
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