Poplar Carpentworm – Acossus centerensis

Poplar Carpentworm (Acossus centerensis) Latin Name: Acossus centerensis Common Name: Poplar Carpentworm Appearance: The poplar carpenterworm, Acossus centerensis, is a Cossidae family moth. Adults: Large, gray-mottled cossid moths with black forewings covered in black reticulations over black-gray scaling darkened near the base. Females have threadlike antennae (feathery male) and slightly more robust bodies than males. Males have a wingspan of 40 to 50 mm, while females have a 50 to 64 mm wingspan. The Head, thorax, and abdomen are blackish with grey edges and shading. Larva: White with a dark brown head and a dark black body. The thoracic shield is yellowish-brown to blackish brown. Thoracic legs with black claws are nicely developed. Spiracles have a dark brown color, while the anal shield is yellowish. The length of mature larvae ranges from 32 to 45 mm. Pupa: Narrow, lustrous, wrinkled, brownish-black, and 30 mm long Host plants: It is recommended to use quaking aspen. Balsam poplar has also been considered as a potential host). Territory: It is found from New Jersey to Illinois and North Dakota in North America. It may be found across Canada, from Quebec and Ontario to British Columbia. Damage caused by Poplar Carpentworm: Many open entrances and multiple deformed bark scars from healed wounds are common in heavily infected trees. Many enormous passages up to 15 mm in diameter flow in various directions deep inside the wood upon dissection. Empty brown pupal cases often protrude from bark holes. Infested trees are prone to breaking at vulnerable points. Life history and Habits: Females lay their eggs on the bark, in tunnels, and other bark holes, alone or in small groups. Females have been reported to lay 50 to 60 eggs in captivity, although they are likely to lay more in the wild. Larvae dig into the bark and heartwood, typically feeding in groups; one 90-cm-long branch had 17 larvae. Three sizes of larvae have been discovered, indicating a three-year life cycle. Mature larvae pupate with their heads toward the holes in the interior section of the galleries. After about a month, pupae make their way to the gallery entrances and through the frass plugs, and the moths emerge.