Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Family
NITIDULIDAE
Family
CERAMBYCIDAE
(longhorn
beetles) (
251
)
A large family of mainly small beetles, the antennae
usually terminating in a 3-segmented club.
A group of small to large beetles, usually with very
long antennae. Larvae are wood-borers, often with a
noticeably swollen prothorax and a relatively small
head. Many species are important timber pests, and
some (including the following examples) cause damage
to ornamental trees.
Meligethes
spp.
Pollen beetles
Adult pollen beetles, mainly
Meligethes aeneus
, are
increasingly reported invading garden flowers during
the summer months. These small (
c.
3 mm long), bronzy
or greenish-black insects breed mainly on brassica seed
crops and weeds such as charlock (
Sinapis arvensis
),
but often migrate in numbers to various other flowering
plants in search of pollen. In gardens, they are
often numerous on ornamentals such as
Alyssum,
Hypericum
, rose (
Rosa
) and sweet pea (
Lathyrus
odoratus
). Although causing little or no direct damage,
the presence of the beetles on cut flowers brought
indoors may be a nuisance.
Aromia moschata
(Linnaeus) (
252
)
Musk beetle
Associated with willow (
Salix
), and sometimes a pest of
shade trees in mainland Europe. Eurasiatic.
DESCRIPTION
Adult:
20-32 mm long; body mainly coppery to
metallic green; antennae and legs bluish black or
greenish black; pronotum with a tooth-like projection
on each side.
Family
BYTURIDAE
LIFE HISTORY
Adults occur mainly from mid-June to August. They are
then to be found in association with willow trees or
feeding on nearby flowers, especially Apiaceae. Larvae
bore within the wood of host trees, and take two or three
years to complete their development.
A small group of small, hairy beetles with clubbed
antennae; the larvae develop in flowers and fruits of
Rubus
.
Byturus tomentosus
(Degeer)
syn.
B. urbanus
(Lindemann)
Raspberry beetle
In spring, following their emergence from hibernation,
adults of this important raspberry pest often feed on the
flowers of rosaceous trees and shrubs, including
hawthorn (
Crataegus
) and flowering cherry (
Prunus
);
they also attack flowering shrubs such as lilac (
Syringa
).
Although sometimes numerous, the beetles do not
cause significant damage and soon depart for
Rubus
hosts upon which they eventually breed. Adults are
3.5-4.5 mm long, yellowish brown, with elongate-oval
bodies and short, clubbed antennae.
DAMAGE
Host trees are weakened by persistent attacks, and may
eventually die.
Phoracantha semipunctata
(Fabricius)
Eucalyptus longhorn beetle
larva
phoracantha borer
A potentially important Australian pest of
Eucalyptus
.
Accidentally introduced to many parts of the world; now
established in various European countries, including
France, Italy, Portugal and Spain.
=
DESCRIPTION
Adult:
25-30 mm long; mainly dark brown, with an
irregular yellowish-white band across the middle of the
elytra, and a similarly coloured patch at the tip of each
elytron.
LIFE HISTORY
Eggs are laid under loose bark or in bark crevices, in
groups of up to 30. They hatch 1-2 weeks later. Larvae
then bore into the bark, sometimes grazing on the outer
surface before doing so. They tunnel within the
cambium, forming very long galleries up to a metre or
so in length. Sap typically oozes from sites of
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