Adult linden borers have three conspicuous black dots on each wing cover and are olive green in color. They have large, segmented antennae and are around 12–34 inches long.
The legless, creamy white larvae reach a length of around 114 inches. The larvae carve vast, uneven tunnels into the sapwood surface as they feed.
Territory:
Linden Borer is found throughout in Canada and United States.
Damage caused by Linden Borer:
Borer damage has modest early indicators that are easy to miss. The bark bulges out over borers’ feeding regions, which may fracture older trees. Infested trees’ leaves will be smaller and less plentiful than normal, especially the top crown. Branches will begin to die back as borer feeding intensifies, starting at the top of the tree. Female mature beetles are often bigger than males. Trees that have suffered extensive feeding damage are prone to fast decline and mortality. Larger trees generally don’t display symptoms for 2–5 years after being infested, and they die slowly. Trees with a diameter of fewer than 4 inches may display symptoms the first year they’re afflicted, and they frequently break off at ground level during heavy gusts.
Life history and Habits:
Adult linden borers have three conspicuous black dots on each wing cover and are olive green in color. Leaf petioles, leaf veins, and the bark of young shoots are also food for the adults. Adult females deposit eggs towards the tree’s base or on lower branches between June and August. After a few weeks, the larvae hatch and begin boring (chewing) their way into the tree to eat. The larvae carve enormous, wide irregular tunnels into the sapwood surface as they feed. Linden borers spend the winter as larvae in their feeding galleries, then pupate in the spring. Adult beetles emerge in late May and remain active until September. The linden borer’s life cycle is not completely understood. Each generation might have a lifespan of 2–3 years.
