Its most redeeming feature is the fact that it is much less invasive than its Asian counterparts, especially the beautiful but ruthless Chinese wisteria ("Wisteria sinensis"). American wisteria is very similar to Kentucky wisteria ("Wisteria macrostachya") which has been considered a variety of "W. frutescens" but grows somewhat differently and has a fragrance. The butterflies long-tailed skipper, silver-spotted skipper, marine blue, zarucco duskywing and the moth "Cuphodes wisteriae" use "Wisteria frutescens" as a larval host. "Wisteria frutescens", in general, is subject to few pests or diseases. It is, however, subject to damage by typical pests like aphids, leaf miners, Japanese beetles, scale insects, and mealybugs. Pests of particular concern are longhorn beetles, such as "Synaphaeta guexi", and the Asian long-horned beetle. These beetles will bore into the woody stems of young or unhealthy wisteria, causing disruption of water and nutrient flow. This also allows for the potential to introduce disease, like rot, and both of these have the potential to cause death of the plant. "Aplosporella wistariae" Ellis & Barthol., previously known as "Haplosporella wistariae" Ellis & Barthol., has been found on some cultivars of wisteria in Louisville, Kansas. Its stromata are elliptical or orbicular, are 1–2 mm in diameter, and are sunk into the bark, which causes raised pustules, some of which are ruptured. Its perithecia are 120-150 μm and are white inside; sporules are oblong, measuring 12-16 by 6-7 μm. Partly dead leaves of "Wisteria frutescens" have been found to host "Phomatospora wistariae" Ellis & Everh. This fungus is perithecial, meaning its fruiting body is flask-shaped with an ostiole through which its ascospores are released. It is mostly epiphytic, and it grows in relatively flat gray spots that are approximately 2–4 mm. in diameter. These spots are bounded by narrow dark lines; however, they frequently run together. "Phomatospora wistariae" is hyaline in appearance and resembles a membrane, it is sessile, it does not have paraphyses, its asci are oblong, and its sporidia are biseriate and have an oblong-elliptical shape.