Cohabitation

Synopsis

A few examples of multiple endophagous insects sharing a single hostplant stem or stemlike structure. I am populating this page gradually as I sort through my photos. Click on an image thumbnail for a larger version.

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Melanagromyza and Listronotus in Osmorhiza

Image #: 1-01 *Melanagromyza* puparium (0352) and *Listronotus* weevil (0350) in *Osmorhiza* stem. Both fed as larvae in this stem, and the weevil larva evidently relocated the puparium when compacting its frass to form a pupation chamber.

Image #: 1-02 Adult *Listronotus* weevil from previous image (1-01).

Image #: 1-03 *Melanagromyza* puparium from previous image (1-01).

Image #: 1-04 Adult *Melanagromyza*, reared from puparium in previous images (1-01, 1-03).

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Papaipema and Pseudopostega in Monarda

Image #: 2-01 Wilting stem of *Monarda fistulosa*, recently evacuated by a *Pseudopostega* larva (0339) and now occupied by a *Papaipema* larva (0720).

Image #: 2-02 Stem from image 2-01, with *Pseudopostega* exit slit (right arrow) and *Papaipema* frass expulsion hole (left arrow). The *Pseudopostega* larva has already left the stem, but the *Papaipema* larva is still inside, hidden at approximately the left edge of the image.

Image #: 2-03 Stem from image 2-01, with *Papaipema* frass expulsion hole (left of center) and area tunneled by a *Pseudopostega* larva (right of center). The *Papaipema* larva (not visible) is located in its tunnel to the left of the frass expulsion hole.

Image #: 2-04 Hostplant stem, showing areas tunneled by a *Pseudopostega* larva (left of center) and a *Papaipema* larva (right of center), with the tunneled areas of the two larvae separated by a short segment of relatively undisturbed, green stem interior tissue.

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Miscellaneous

Image #: 3-01 *Marmara* stem mine (0733) and *Dasineura pilosa* gall (0305) on stem of *Laportea canadensis*.

Image #: 3-02 Mordellid larva (0518, at upper left) tunneling in wall of *Gnorimoschema* cf. *gallaesolidaginis* gall (0516), with pupal exuviae of the moth left behind in the gall interior.

Page created: March 30, 2026. Last update: April 4, 2026