Hemisphaerota cyanea – Blue Metallic Wood-Boring Beetle

Hemisphaerota cyanea   Common Name: Blue Metallic Wood-Boring Beetle Latin Name: Hemisphaerota cyanea Appearance: Hemisphaerota cyanea is a large beetle with a metallic blue-green body measuring up to 25mm long. The elytra (hardened front wings) are long, narrow, and taper to a point at the end. The antennae and legs are black, and the head is concealed from above by the prothorax.

• Egg:The eggs of Hemisphaerota cyanea are small, oval, and white.
• Pupa:The pupa of Hemisphaerota cyanea is creamy, white in color, and cylindrical.
• Larva:The larva of Hemisphaerota cyanea is white and legless with a distinctive C-shaped body. They have a large, flattened head capsule and strong mandibles for chewing through wood.
• Adults:The adult Hemisphaerota cyanea beetles are active during the summer months and are attracted to lights at night. They are strong fliers and can often be seen flying around trees and shrubs. The males have long antennae, while the females have shorter ones.

Host plant: Hemisphaerota cyanea primarily attacks and feeds on the wood of broad-leaved oak, maple, beech, and elm. Territory: Hemisphaerota cyanea is found in forests throughout North America, from eastern Canada to the southern United States. Damages caused by Hemisphaerota cyanea: Hemisphaerota cyanea is considered a pest in forestry as the larvae bore into and feed on the wood of trees, weakening them and reducing their value as timber. They can cause significant damage to trees and, in severe cases, kill them. Life history and Habits: Hemisphaerota cyanea has a one-year life cycle. The adults mate in the summer, and the females lay their eggs in crevices and cracks in the bark of trees. The larvae hatch from the eggs and bore into the wood, feeding and growing for several months. In the fall, they construct a pupal chamber in the wood, where they pupate and overwinter. The following spring, the adults emerge from the pupal chamber, chew their way out of the tree, and begin anew. Hemisphaerota cyanea is attracted to stressed or weakened trees, and the larvae are often found in trees damaged by wind, lightning, or other insects.