White Oak Borer Beetle

White Oak Borer Beetle, is an invasive pest in Southern California that was first detected around 2004. This beetle has a natural distribution that extends from the oak forests in the mountains of Southern Arizona.

This borer is found in the East wherever its host species grow. Young trees 2 to 8 inches (5 to 20 cm) in diameter, in the white oak group are attacked. Some degrade occurs.

The larva is moderately robust and cylindrical; 1 to 1.5 inches (25 to 37 mm) long; yellowish white; head strongly depressed with dark brown mandibles; and legless. The adult beetle has a spine on each side of the thorax; about .8 to 1 inch (20 to 28 mm) long; white and brown mottled; and antennae about as long as the body.

White Oak Borer Beetle egg niches .25 inch (6 mm) in diameter cut singly in the bark are followed by oozing sap and teh extrusion of fine, moist frass. Later, the insects eject yellowish, ribbon-like pieces of frass containing pulverized or fibrous, shredded wood. Galleries are about .5 inch (12 mm) in diameter and 6 inches (15 cm) long. Each borer leaves a small, elongate entrance hole and a circular .3 inch (8 mm) exit hole.

Life Cycle : The stages in the life cycle of woodboring beetles are illustrated in Young beetle larvae hatch from eggs,burrow into wood, and begin feeding. The larvae of different wood-boring beetle species differ in size and shape , but most larvae are yellowish white with dark mandibles (jaws). The strong jaws enable the larvae to construct tunnels as they feed on starch and other compounds within the wood.

Wooddamagingbeetle larvae often go unnoticed because they feed beneath the surface of the wood and their tunnels are not visible. Feeding tunnels vary in size and shape according to species, and can be distinguished from other types of insect damage . The time required for the larvae to complete their development varies from a few months to several years, depend.

Adult beetles emerge during May to June and deposit eggs. Eggs hatch in about 3 weeks and the larvae tunnel directly into the wood. Pupation occurs within the gallery and lasts 2 to 3 weeks. A life cycle requires 3 to 5 years.

Damage :White oak borer also attacks all white oak species. Adults emerge from June through August. Damage in the first year of the two-year life cycle is difficult to detect, but enlarged holes in the bark and stains from oozing sap (right) alert people to borers’ presence in the second year. Established trees seem to tolerate borer activities, and wounds heal over time. However, borer damage downgrades harvested and milled lumber.

The locust borer is most abundant in September, when it often feeds on goldenrod and ragweed pollen during daylight. As the day ends, beetles return to locust trees and deposit eggs. Damaged trees or trees in nutrient-poor soils or eroded sites tend to be more susceptible to locust borer damage. Trees planted on good sites and thrifty, older, dominant trees usually survive locust borer attacks.

Managing Wood-boring Insects: Selecting well adapted species of trees and shrubs that are not commonly attacked by wood borers in your area. Arizona ash, birch, cottonwood, locust, soft maple, f lowering stone fruits (such as peaches and plums), slash pines (in west Texas), willow and poplar are especially prone to borer attack.

Choosing and preparing a good planting site to avoid plant stress, freeze damage, sun scald and wind burn.Minimizing plant stress and stimulating growth by using proper watering and fertilization practices. Avoiding injury to tree trunks from lawn mowers, weed trimmers or construction.

Promptly caring for wounded or broken plant parts using pruning or wound paint during all but the coldest months of the year.Properly thinning and pruning during colder months. Removing and destroying infested, dying or dead plants or plant parts, including fallen limbs. Wrapping tree trunks and limbs with quarter-inch hardware cloth spaced about 1 1/2 inches from the tree’s surface where woodpecker damage is likely.

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