Locust borer
Megacyllene robiniae |
| USDA Forest Service. 1979. A guide to common insects and diseases of forest trees in the northeastern United States. Northeast. Area State Priv. For., For. Insect and Disease Management., Broomall, PA. p. 123, illus. |
The locust borer, one of the long-horned, wood-boring beetles, is a serious pest wherever black locust is found. Infestations lower sawlog quality, reduce growth, and make trees more susceptible to wind damage. Signs of attack include swelling and sap stain on trunks and branches.
Young larvae overwinter in a shallow bark cell, become active in the spring, and work their way into the sapwood and heartwood. Larvae are fleshy, larger at the front, and pale white to light yellow. Extensive tunneling continues until mid-summer, when the larvae pupate; adults emerge in August and September. The ¾-inch-long adults, which are characterized by yellow lines on black wing covers, can frequently be seen feeding on goldenrod pollen during early morning. Soon after mating, females lay their eggs in small batches within bark crevices. Larvae hatch in about 1 week and soon construct individual bark cells in which they overwinter. There is one generation each year.
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