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)

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)


* 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

Note: Lepidoptera have been excluded
from this table.

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)

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