Ragwort Flea Beetle vs European Wheat Stem Sawfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Ragwort Flea Beetle European Wheat Stem Sawfly
Scientific Name Longitarsus jacobaeae Cephus pygmeus
Order Coleoptera Hymenoptera
Family Chrysomelidae Cephidae
Size 2-3 mm 8-10 mm (adult)
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Root Feeders Omnivores
Regions Europe Europe, Asia, North America
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Ragwort Flea Beetle

A small black flea beetle that feeds on ragwort plants. Successfully used as a biological control agent for invasive ragwort in Australia and New Zealand. Larvae mine in roots.

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Did You Know?

One of the most successful biological control agents ever used, dramatically reducing ragwort in multiple countries.

European Wheat Stem Sawfly

A stem-boring sawfly pest of wheat and other cereals throughout Europe and western Asia. It has also established in parts of North America.

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Did You Know?

Solid-stemmed wheat varieties were bred specifically to resist stem sawfly larval boring.