White Oak Borer
Goes tigrinus

This is one of the most destructive borers of the white oak group in the South. Its importance is compounded by the increasingly higher prices of veneerquality lumber.

Identification:

The adult longhorned beetles are rarely seen. They are mottled brown and white, about 1 inch (25 mm) long, with a spine on each side of the thorax and antennae about as long as the body. Larvae are grub-like, pale yellow, robust, and up to 1 1/2 inches (37 mm) long.

Injury:

Oozing of sap and frass production on trunks are the most prominent indications of infestations. The sap often attracts flies, bees, wasps, butterflies, and other insects. Internal damage consists of extensive larval mining, often accompanied by discoloration and subsequent decay of the wood.

Biology and History:

Adults emerge in mid-spring and deposit eggs in roughened bark or near wounds. About 3 weeks later, eggs hatch, and larvae tunnel directly into the wood. New adults develop within the tunnels and emerge through a new, circular exit hole. The life cycle requires 3 to 5 years for completion.