Megacyllene robiniae

Definition

A species of cerambycid beetle endemic to eastern North America, commonly known as the locust borer. Adults are conspicuously marked with black and yellow longitudinal stripes and emerge in late summer to feed on goldenrod pollen and mate. The larvae are wood-borers that tunnel extensively in the heartwood of living black locust trees (Robinia pseudoacacia), often girdling and killing young trees or weakening mature ones. The species is considered a serious economic pest of black locust in forestry and ornamental plantings.

Etymology

Genus Megacyllene from Greek megas (large) + kyllene (a mountain in Greece, or possibly related to kyllo, to roll or swell); specific epithet robiniae from Robinia, the host plant genus named for French botanist Jean Robin.

Example

Larvae of Megacyllene robiniae can be found in black locust trunks from late summer through spring, producing coarse sawdust-like frass expelled from entry holes; adult emergence typically peaks in August and September when goldenrod is in bloom.

Synonyms

• Locust borer

Related Terms

• Cerambycidae
• Coleoptera
• Robinia pseudoacacia
• wood-borer
• host specialization
• sympatry

Usage Notes

The common name 'locust borer' refers specifically to this species and should not be confused with other locust-feeding insects. The species is monophagous or nearly so on black locust, though occasionally reported from other Robinia species. Taxonomic note: some sources list authorship as (Forster, 1771), others as Monné & Hovore, 2006; the latter reflects a subsequent recombination or correction. Adults are sometimes mistaken for wasps or bees due to their aposematic coloration and flower-visiting behavior.