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Field guide to exotic pests and diseases: Burnt pine longicorn beetle
Arhopalus ferus (Fabricius)
Burnt pine longicorn beetle adult.
Source: Forest Research, New Zealand
Damage caused by burnt pine longicorn beetle.
Source: Forest Research, New Zealand
Identification: larvae elongate and cylindrical with reduced head and legs, 25mm long at maturity. Adult beetles 12-30mm long; male light brown, female dark brown to black. Antennae half as long as the body.
Hosts: burned or windthrown pine and spruce.
Distribution: United Kingdom, Europe, Russia, introduced to New Zealand.
Detection:Eggs: laid in groups of 5-50 in bark crevices on freshly burned or felled timber.
Larvae: feed in cambium; tunnels oval in cross-section, up to 12mm wide, loosely packed with frass and coarse wood particles.
Adults: emergence holes are oval and average 6mm diameter; adults live for several weeks, can appear in large numbers, active dusk to dawn, attracted to light, shelter in crevices during the day. Probable means of entry is on imported timber and cargo loaded during the adult beetle’s flight period (usually summer).
Potential impact: could cause severe economic loss of windthrown or fire damaged trees.