Agrilus sinuatus

(Olivier, 1790)

sinuate peartree borer, hawthorn jewel beetle

Agrilus sinuatus is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the Buprestidae, native to Europe and Northern Asia (excluding China) with introduced or established in North America. The has emerged as a significant pest of rosaceous trees in European orchards and nurseries, particularly pear, quince, and hawthorn. It was historically an occasional pest in the 19th century, became rare during the broad-spectrum era, then resurged dramatically from 1992–1997 in Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium, with a major population explosion recorded in Hungary in 2019 causing 40–50% tree mortality in a quince orchard. The species exhibits a two-year with thermophilic tendencies, showing increased population growth following hot summers.

Agrilus sinuatus by (c) Barry Walter, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Barry Walter. Used under a CC-BY license.

Agrilus.sinuatus.-.calwer.24.07 by Emil Hochdanz
. Used under a Public domain license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Agrilus sinuatus: //ˈæɡrɪləs sɪˈnjuːətəs//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

No specific diagnostic characters for distinguishing A. sinuatus from similar Agrilus are documented in available sources. Standard identification would require examination of male genitalia and comparison with revision works such as Fisher (1928) for North American specimens or European taxonomic literature for Palearctic .

Images

Habitat

Orchards and nurseries; trees in sunny locations. Field trapping studies indicate that traps placed on sunlit sides of trees at approximately 2 meters height are most effective for capture, suggesting activity is concentrated on exposed, illuminated surfaces of host plants.

Distribution

Native to Europe and Northern Asia (excluding China); occurs in North Africa to the south and the Caucasus to the east. Present in North America, though status (native or introduced) not explicitly clarified. Resurged and spread in continental Europe from 1992 onward, with notable expansions in Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, and Hungary. Major pest status in Belgium and neighboring countries. Population explosion recorded in Hajdúnánás, Hungary in 2019.

Seasonality

active from end of May to end of July. Thermophilic with growth linked to hot summer conditions.

Diet

Larvae feed on cambium and sapwood of trees, creating subcortical galleries. feed on host plant tissues.

Host Associations

Pyrus communis - larval pear; major in orchards
Pyrus pyraster - larval wild pear
Crataegus spp. - larval ornamental hawthorn
Sorbus spp. - larval rowan
Mespilus germanica - larval medlar
Cydonia oblonga - larval quince; site of 2019 Hungarian explosion

Life Cycle

Two-year . Females lay 30–40 on sunny sides of young tree trunks or thicker branches. Larvae develop for two years, creating characteristic downward-running sinuous subcortical galleries 50–60 cm long just below the bark, which can kill trees. Larvae mature by end of second autumn, dig pupal chamber 2–3 cm below wood surface. Before pupating, larvae chew exit hole through wood, filling it with chewing remnants without damaging bark, allowing .

Behavior

Exhibits strong behavioral response to optical features of traps—light green color is optimal attractant. are active on plants during daylight hours. Thermophilic with linked to hot summer conditions. Larval galleries characteristically run downward beneath the bark.

Ecological Role

Pest causing primary damage to rosaceous trees in orchards and nurseries. Larval galleries kill trees and create entry points for secondary through necrotic bark cracks. No native ecological role documented in available sources.

Human Relevance

Significant economic pest of pear orchards and ornamental rosaceous trees. In 2019, caused 40–50% tree mortality in a Hungarian quince orchard. Monitoring and detection are difficult due to small size, agility, and cryptic larval lifestyle. Light green and transparent sticky traps have been identified as effective monitoring tools, with light green sticky sheets being optimal.

Similar Taxa

Other Agrilus speciesMany Agrilus are morphologically similar and require examination of male genitalia or other fine structural characters for definitive identification; Fisher (1928) remains the key revision for North American species.
Lamprodila festivaShares similar pest status in European ornamental plantings and was studied alongside A. sinuatus in Hungarian trapping experiments; both respond optimally to light green sticky traps.

More Details

Population Resurgence

The was an occasional pest in the 19th century but became rare during the broad-spectrum era. Resurged from 1992–1997 in Germany, Netherlands, and Belgium due to favorable hot summer conditions, and has continued expanding its range and pest impact.

Trapping Efficacy

Field studies in Hungary found that light green and transparent sticky traps caught more A. sinuatus than non-sticky multifunnel traps, regardless of the larger colored surface area of funnel traps. Light green sticky sheets were optimal, though transparent sheets may reduce non-target insect captures.