Pine-borer

Description:

European sculptured pine borer is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae. Adults are 21-32 mm long. The body is flat and shiny. The head is broad with a groove on frons. Pronotum and elytrae are with parallel irregular ridges. The ventral side of the body is dark brown. The dorsal side is copper, metallic shiny. The larva is white, up to 70 mm long, legless. Adults are active from May through July. During warm sunny days they are observed mainly on pine stumps in clear cut areas. Females oviposit eggs in bark crevices of stems or stumps. Larvae hatch after 2 weeks and excavate galleries of up to 15 mm in width. Flatted pupal chambers of 4x1.5 cm in size are directed along fibres. Adults emerge through exit holes of 1,0 x 0,5 mm in size. This species has one generation per 3 up to 6 years.

Habitat:

Occurrence - Europe, mainly the central and southern part, Siberia up to Baikal Lake. Host plants - The Scots pine.

Notes:

Photos taken @ Bikodze, Bosnia & Herzegovina.