Banded Ash Clearwing
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Importance
This clearwing is similar in distribution and appearance to the ash borer and causes similar damage to boles and branches. Its populations are smaller and more scattered than those of the ash borer.
Identifying the Insect
Adult clearwings are slightly larger than adult ash borers and have forewings that are violet brown and mostly dark. The body is brownish black, but abdominal segment 4 is bordered at the rear with a distinct, narrow, upward-tapering, bright orange-yellow band. The larvae can be distinguished from ash borer larvae because they have fewer crochets on the abdominal legs (12 to 16 per row vs. 16 to 20 per row, respectively).
Identifying the Injury
Injury is similar to that of the ash borer, but the seasonal occurrence is markedly different. Females lay eggs in late summer. Soon after, and continuing into the fall, larvae begin feeding, causing sap to ooze and fine frass to be extruded from attack sites. The next spring and summer, the frass becomes coarse and granular and is extruded in small clumps. Pupal skins may be found protruding from exit holes in the bark from late summer to winter.
Biology
Adults emerge from August to December, whereas those of the ash borer emerge during spring and summer. Emergence peaks from mid-September to early October. Larvae overwinter as second instars within their mines in the phloem-cambium area.
Control
Woodpeckers, other natural enemies, and good cultural practices help to reduce populations. Insecticides must be applied in late summer and fall to kill newly hatched larvae.
References
Solomon, J.D.; Leininger, T.D.; Wilson, A.D.; Anderson, R.L.; Thompson, L.C.; McCracken, F.I. 1993. Ash pests: A guide to major insects, diseases, air pollution injury and chemical injury. Gen. Tech. Rep. SO-96. New Orleans, LA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station. 45 p.
