Common herbivores attacking Phragmites australis in North America

At least 9 different herbivores (7 insects and one mite) are commonly associated with Phragmites in the Northeast. Not all species occur throughout New York State and very limited information is available about their distribution and activities. Some species were only discovered in winter 2000 and there may be more surprises as more samples from different regions are evaluated. All species are accidental introductions from Europe that are now spreading in the US. 

(You may wish to print out copies of this to assist with species identification in the lab.)

A) Insects damaging shoot tips

Lipara rufitarsis adult fly	Lipara rufitarsis     Lipara pullitarsis         Lipara similis         Stenotarsonemus phragmitidis
Lipara sp.
Lipara, maiting pair
Steneotarsemus phragmites attack sign

B) Insects in apical internodes

Giraudiella inclusa galls on inside of shoot	Giraudiella inclusa     Chaetococcus phragmitidis     Microlasioptera sp.
Giraudiella inclusa, adult midge

C) Insects attacking intermediate internodes

Lasioptera hungarica larvae plus fungal mycelium	Lasioptera hungarica           Tetramesa phragmitis       Trypticus sp.       Microlasioptera sp.
Lasioptera hungarica, adult midge
Parasitoid of Tetramesa
Tetramesa feeding marks on the inside of stem
Tetramesa larvae

D) Insects attacking basal internodes

Giraudiella inclusa (see picture above)

E) Insects attacking side shoots

Giraudiella inclusa (see picture above)
Microlasioptera sp.

F) Insects found on the outside of the stem or under leaf sheaths
     of basal internodes

Chaetococcus phragmitidis

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                                               Copyright 2002. Bernd Blossey. Cornell University
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