Longhorn Beetles

Facts about Longhorn Beetles, "Scientific name for longhorn beetle is Phorocantha semipunctata". The Longhorn Beetle are also referred to as the long horned beetles. The Longhorn Beetle is a seriously destructive pest of the eucalyptus tree. Native to Australia and having spread to eucalyptus cultivation areas around the globe, the beetle is basically wreaks havoc in areas that it infests. The first beetle in America was first seen in Carlifonia in 1984. Since then this beetle has spread throughout most of western Canada and the US.

Attributes of Longhorn Beetle

From the name, you can tell that they spot elongated antennae, which in most cases attains lengths more than that of the body. Most of the beetles have an elongated cylindrical body and their first antenna segment (where it attaches to the head) is about five times longer than the second segment. Adults grow to reach lengths of about an inch and are usually black and brown in color.

The longhorn beetle is legless and club-shaped as larvae. The term “round headed borer” refers to the long cylindrical tunnel left behind by the larvae as it bores through wood. Normally these 1/2 to 3/4 inches (1.2 to 1.9 cm)wide tunnels are filled by sawdust and lines of sap may originate from them. The lifecycles of this beetle is similar to that of the metallic wood boring beetle meaning that it requires several years to complete its development in stress trees or cut timber.

However, the life cycle may be significantly extended once infested trees are lumbered. Movement of firewood is basically one of the best ways through which the beetles spread but adults are good and strong fliers meaning that they could fly several miles in search of better grounds to lay their eggs.


Habitat of Longhorn Beetle

The new house borer is one of the more common long horned beetles that were found completing its development in lumber from infested trees. This is basically the most notable exception of the thought that the long horned beetle naturally do not reinforce. This beetle, which is known to attack Douglas fir and pine, especially in areas swept by fire, is much spread throughout the east of the United States all the way to Texas. The new house borer is said to attack only soft woods meaning that the rise in the cost of wood that has led to people preferring building with the soft wood is one of the most successful means through which the beetles are using to spread. When lumber from infested trees is used in construction, the development holes of the adult beetles may be found in linoleum, hardwood flooring, plaster, plasterboard or any other covering of the framing infested by the beetles.

Reproduction of Longhorn Beetle

The life cycle of longhorn beetles is around 2 years; however, the emergence of the adult beetles characteristically takes place within the first year of construction. Apparently, this is because the lumber does not support development of the beetles as it dries out. Normally, infesting larvae, also, do not survive this.

Control of Longhorn Beetle

Most of the damage caused by this beetle occurs in attic framing in the substructure along the mid-Atlantic coast and the northeast. The best way to control the longhorn beetles is through fumigation.