Page 96 - Florida Pest Control Examinations

ENGRAVER BEETLE

Photo Courtesy of Jim Stimmel Photo Courtesy of Fabio Stergulc
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture www.forestryimages.org
1.Antenna- 2 short 6.Thorax
2.Eyes- compound 7.Petiole- none ENGRAVER BEETLE
3.Head- facing downward 8.Abdomen- cylindrical 6 8
4.Legs- 6 9.Color- reddish-brown to black
5.Wings- covered by elytra 10.Other
Life Cycle
The male bores into a tree and creates a chamber where it mates with 1-5 females. The
females create an egg gallery and deposit the eggs. Larvae hatch out and tunnel until 3
they create a cell in which to pupate. They hatch and the new adults will also tunnel for
a while before exiting via an emergence hole. They will fly up to four miles to find a new 4
host tree. The whole cycle can be completed in as little as three weeks, with as many as
8-10 generations per year. Photo Courtesy of USDA Forest Service
www.forestryimages.org
ENGRAVER BEETLE Actual size 1/5”

The Engraver Beetle is a species of Bark Beetle, of which many types exist in Florida, including
the Small Southern Pine Engraver. They live in the inner bark of trees and set up colonies
that will eventually kill the tree. They seek out stressed or diseased trees, but will also infect
felled timber. The stressed trees produce a defensive resin, which is overcome by the beetle’s
pheromones to attract large numbers of both male and female beetles. The first sign of an
infestation is the yellowing of the tree’s foliage.

1.Antenna- very long 6.Thorax LONG HORNED BORER
2.Eyes- compound 7.Petiole- none
3.Head 8.Abdomen
4.Legs- 6 9.Color- dark brown
5.Wings- covered, hard elytra 10.Other- Scape
(key characteristic for identification)
Life Cycle 5
Eggs are laid under the bark of weakened or diseased trees. Larvae
take 1-6 years to fully develop into beetles, and will burrow deeply into 1
the infected wood. The quality of the wood will affect the development-- 4
the more nutrients in the wood, the shorter time to develop.
Photo Courtesy of Corky’s Pest Control
LONG HORNED BORER Actual size 1”

These beetles get their name from their long antennae, and will infest both standing trees and
recently felled lumber, so they can get into new houses. They will attack both hardwoods and
softwoods but will not reinfest wood. The larvae do most of the damage. Adults are a dark
brown color, and about one inch in size. Note that Round Headed, Long Horned, Old House,
and New House borers are all from the family Cerambycidae.

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