Goldenrod borer
Oidaaematophorus kellicotti (Fish)
From: Solomon, J.D. 1995. Guide to insect borers of North
American broadleaf trees and shrubs. Argic. Handbk. 706. Washington, DC:
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 735 p.
Hosts. Baccharis, goldenrod. Goldenrod is mentioned as the
host in early reports, but recent unpublished findings suggest that baccharis,
especially eastern baccharis, is a common host (Barnes and Lindsey 1921, Bennett
1963, Cashatt 1972, Kimball 1965).
Range. Like the closely related O. balanotes, primarily an
eastern species reported from Massachusetts and New York south to southern
Florida and west to Colorado and Utah (Barnes and Lindsey 1921, Cashatt
1972). Also recorded from Quebec (Forbes 1923).
Description
Adult. Slender-bodied moth with long legs, narrow wings, and
cream colored with slightly darker brown markings (Cashatt 1972, Fernald
1898). Forewing brownish white with indistinct brown dash extending
from base, which fades out toward cleft. Hindwings uniformly brownish
white with silky luster. Wingspan ranges from 14 to 29 mm. Body
light brownish white dusted with brown scales. Distinguished from other
stem-boring pterophorids by its smallness and distinct spot at base of wing
cleft.
Larva. Creamy white and light brown, and 12 to 18 mm long.
Head, thoracic shield, and dorsum of caudal four or five abdominal segments
brown. Abdomen terminates into a dark brown anal plate with two pronglike
processes and long hairs.
Pupa. Long (10 to 15 mm) and slender, light brown.
Biology. Moths emerge during most months, depending on latitude
(Cashatt 1972, Kimball 1965). Although most specimens have been collected
during June and July, emergence has occurred as early as February in Florida and
as late as October in New York. In goldenrod, larvae initially bore into
branches (Fernald 1898), but by mid-September they abandon the branches, move
down the plant and bore into the main stem a few centimeters above the
groundline. Here, larvae bore downward into the roots, where they
overwinter. During spring, larvae work their way back to the aboveground
entrances, enlarge the galleries, plug openings loosely with frass and debris,
and pupate in the galleries. Empty fresh galleries in main stems of
baccharis have been found during fall, indicating the possibility of larval
movement. Galleries in baccharis are long and cylindrical, similar to those made by O. balanotes,
but slightly smaller. This borer has one generation per year.
Injury and Damage. New attack sites in baccharis can be
recognized by sap oozing from the bark and fine yellowish brown frass in bark
crevices. Frass becomes course granular and is often clumped at round
gallery entrances. Long, slender galleries are just beneath the wood
surface. Larvae tunnel in the main stem and branches, sometimes causing
breakage of host parts.
Control. Nothing is known of natural enemies, and direct
controls have not been needed.
Damage in Baccharis in South Carolina (note clump of frass at attack site on stem). James Solomon,
USDA Forest Service. |
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