Neoclytus acuminatus

Authors: Eric Day, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Taxonomy

Domain	Eukarya
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Arthropoda
Subphylum	Hexapoda
Class	Insecta
Subclass	Pterygota
Infraclass	Neoptera
Order	Coleoptera
Suborder	Polyphaga
Infraorder	Cucujiformia
Superfamily	Chrysomeloidea
Family	Cerambycidae
Subfamily	Cerambycinae
Tribe	Clytini
Genus	Neoclytus

Scientific Name

Neoclytus acuminatus

Common Name

redheaded ash borer

Plants Attacked

All dying or recently killed hardwoods, especially oak, ash, hickory, and hackberry.

Description of Damage

Young larvae feed under the bark but later enter the heart and sap wood and completely destroy it. Plant parts attacked: trunk and main limbs. Damaging stages: larvae.

Identification

Adults are elongate, cylindrical, and slender. They are reddish brown with yellow cross bands on the wing covers. The larvae are cylindrical and white in color and the body is moderately hairy.

Life History

The adults emerge in June. They feed, mate, and lay eggs in the cracks and crevices of the bark. These eggs hatch and the young larvae bore into the bark and feed between the bark and sapwood 4-6 weeks. They then enter the sap and heart wood and completely destroy it. At maturity they construct a pupal cell near the surface of the wood and pupate in early spring.

Control

Control procedures are not necessary since only dying or cut wood is attacked.

Remarks

This is often a household nuisance pest since adults may emerge from fuel logs.

References

• Day, E. Redheaded Ash Borer. http://www.ext.vt.edu/departments/entomology/factsheets/redash.html. August 1996