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Importance - This is the most serious insect pest of black locust. It provides infection courts for the fungus, Fomes rimosus, which causes substantial defect, growth loss, and some mortality. The only host is black locust.
Identifying the Insect - The adult is an attractive longhorned beetle, often seen feeding on goldenrod in late summer and early fall. It has bright yellow bands expanding across a jet black thorax and wing covers, and the third band on the wings forms a "W" design. Legs are yelloworange and long. Full-grown larvae are full-bodied, pale, and about 1 inch (25 mm) long.
Identifying the Injury - The first sign of attack occurs in the spring, around the time of bud burst. Oozing sap at the point where the larva bores into the tree causes a wet spot on the bark. Eventually, the larva begins to tunnel into the wood, pushing granular frass out of the entry hole.
Wood infested by locust borers can be virtually "honeycombed" by the larvae. Sometimes stems are so weakened that they become windbroken.
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Adult.
Photo from Clemson University - USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series |
