The redheaded ash borer is a beetle of the cerambycid family.
Adult redheaded ash borers have slightly cylindrical, elongated bodies that range in length from 4 to 13 mm (0.16–0.5 inch) and taper towards the tip of the abdomen. The head, thorax, and legs are reddish-brown, and the darker wing coverings have four yellow dorsal bands.
Larvae are creamy-white with a black, spherical head capsule and lumpy constrictions between body segments. They are around 10–22 mm (0.39–0.87 inches) in length when grown.
Pupae have the appearance of a yellowish mummy, with the adult traits of legs, antennae, and head visible. Overall, the mature wasp’s form, size, and coloring are similar to a wasp. The redheaded ash borer is a beetle of the cerambycid family.
Host plants:
Redheaded ash borers may attack almost any dying or dead hardwood, although they favor ash, hackberry, hickory, oak, and persimmon. Fruit trees and even grapevines are susceptible to assault. The larvae of saplings operate in the inner bark and summerwood of the trunk, both horizontally and vertically. During severe winds, infested trees may break off.
Territory:
The redheaded ash borer is native to North America and most eastern Canada. It can be found anywhere its diverse host range is found.
Damage caused by Redheaded Ash Borer:
Larval tunneling in standing trees can weaken limbs and make them more prone to shattering in heavy winds. Adults may be discovered in homes after emerging from firewood brought in over the winter. Egg-laying females are drawn to freshly cut, green logs with intact bark. The larvae of the redheaded ash borer do most economic damage to hardwood destined for lumber or fuel.
Life history and Habits:
The pupal stage of the redheaded ash borer overwinters in the trunks of afflicted trees. Adults emerge in the early spring and lay eggs beneath the bark of dead, unseasoned wood. The larvae feed beneath the bark initially, then tunnel into the sapwood, frequently reducing it to powder. There are possibly two or three generations every year. Adult banded ash borers emerge in early spring and lay eggs in bark fissures. Winter-cut ash logs are more vulnerable to attack. The larvae eat under the bark before boreging into the sapwood, where they feed the rest of the summer. The pupae hatch in the fall, but the adult does not emerge until the following spring. A generation occurs once a year on average; however, if the contaminated material is sawed, kept, and dried out, the life cycle may take many years.
