Beech

Guides

Acalitus ferrugineum
beech erineum mite
Acalitus ferrugineum is a microscopic eriophyid mite that induces erineum galls on the leaves of American beech (Fagus grandifolia). The galls appear as pale to light yellow patches that progress to reddish-brown later in the season. The species is known from the United States and Canada and has been documented in over 4,000 observations.
eriophyid-mite gall-mite beech Fagus erineum-gall North-America forest-pest-(aesthetic-only)
Agrilus obsoletoguttatus
Beech Borer
Agrilus obsoletoguttatus is a small metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, native to North America. It is among the smallest jewel beetle species utilized as prey by the specialist predatory wasp Cerceris fumipennis, which provisions its underground nests with paralyzed buprestid beetles. The species has been documented in nest caches containing up to 13 individuals, reflecting its small size relative to larger buprestid prey.
Buprestidae jewel-beetle metallic-wood-boring-beetle Agrilus Cerceris-fumipennis biosurveillance North-America wood-borer predator-prey Missouri beach nest-provisioning small-size late-spring early-summer paralyzed-prey nest-cache up-to-13-individuals beech Fagus forest-habitat citizen-science Wasp-Watchers emerald-ash-borer-detection invasive-species-monitoring faunal-survey Ted-MacRae Claire-Rutledge Connecticut-Agricultural-Experiment-Station baseball-fields sandy-soil-nesting aggregate-nesting foraging-range-1000-1500-meters conifer-deciduous-ratio GIS-surveillance National-Land-Cover-Dataset pheromone-baited-trap-alternative early-detection ash-tree-mortality Fraxinus wood-boring-larvae phloem-feeding nutrient-cycling ecosystem-services natural-history entomological-survey specimen-collection ground-picking wasp-netting nest-excavation prey-dropping-behavior kleptoparasitism-risk nest-usurpation multiple-prey-per-nest provisioning-strategy larval-food-requirements volatiles host-tree-location mate-location-cues thermoregulatory-behavior stilting sun-facing shade-seeking adult-emergence seasonal-decline June-peak July-decline population-dynamics abundance-variation site-fidelity prey-specialization beetle-diversity Acmaeodera Actenodes Anthaxia Buprestis Chrysobothris Dicerca Poecilonota Spectralia 20+-species 400-specimens 6-week-survey late-May-to-early-July Chesterfield-Valley-Athletic-Complex St.-Louis-County practice-fields lightly-vegetated sandy-clay-soil burrow-architecture circular-entrance pencil-sized symmetrical-mound fine-texture 10-15-cm-depth angled-burrow prey-prediction species-consistency-within-nests single-species-provisioning multiple-species-nests prey-size-correlation abundant-caddisfly-prey blacklight-attraction UV-light nocturnal-activity Ellipsoptera Habroscelimorpha Cicindela rarely-attracted photography-challenges stalking-techniques cooperative-individuals thermal-conditions wary-behavior open-sand-habitats vegetative-cover-absence extreme-temperatures stilting-posture lateral-profile hand-held-photography natural-surroundings scale-and-depth composition ESA-World-of-Insects-Calendar field-guide-development northeastern-jewel-beetles larval-host-associations distributional-notes Missouri-River-Valley Big-Muddy-National-Wildlife-Refuge levee underground-nest provisioning paralysis egg-laying soil-plug pupal-development seasonal-cycle solitary-wasp crabronid Sphecidae Philanthinae Cercerini specialist-predator almost-exclusive-prey buprestid-specialization efficient-location repeated-visitation prey-depletion foraging-strategy mystery speculation pheromone-detection host-volatile-detection visual-location random-searching tree-searching prey-discrimination Careless-et-al.-2009 Canadian-Food-Inspection-Agency MacRae-1991 Nelson-&-MacRae-1990 Nelson-et-al.-1996 MacRae-&-Nelson-2003 MacRae-2004 MacRae-2006 Pearson-et-al.-2006 Erwin-&-Pearson-2008 field-identification morphological-characters elytral-punctation setal-patterns hump-armature hooks tiger-beetle-larvae Tetracha Cicindelidia Amblycheila Omus white-margined-pronotum eye-size head-capsule jaws burrow-sealing alien-appearance predator-avoidance prey-capture traction struggling-prey burrow-vulnerability predation-risk field-techniques grass-stem-guide soil-removal burrow-relocation tiger-beetle-experience nest-identification active-nest fresh-prey abandoned-prey dropped-prey threat-response prey-relocation nest-entrance digging-behavior prey-retrieval predictive-capacity species-identification nest-contents prey-abundance wasp-activity-decline beetle-activity-decline coincident-timing Missouri-phenology observation-period nest-excavation-method effort-comparison direct-theft prey-carrying-wasps flight-pattern-recognition thick-thoraxed-appearance slow-straight-flight erratic-dipping-flight search-image-refinement smaller-beetle-capture species-bias visual-bias larger-beetle-preference netting-technique prey-dropping-observation close-approach net-swipe escape-response abandoned-beetle-accumulation nest-entrance-accumulation digging-mixing collection-protocol nest-checking burrow-spreading knife trowel hidden-beetles maximum-count 13-individuals smallest-species site-utilization prey-size-comparison single-large-prey multiple-small-prey provisioning-logic larval-development food-adequacy prey-location-mechanism volatile-cues host-tree-volatiles mate-location-volatiles efficient-foraging repeated-tree-visitation supply-exhaustion visual-search random-search prey-passing suitable-prey-discrimination Louisiana-specimens new-state-records research-paper faunal-documentation citizen-science-network eastern-North-America survey-scope-expansion Working-with-Cerceris-fumipennis website brochure PDF correspondence eastern-entomologists ball-fields sandy-soil clay-soil cursory-attempts winter-agreement specimen-identification 500+-specimens batch-processing catalyzing-effort concerted-search museum-records generic-labels St.-Louis Columbia monthly-visits regular-grooming heavy-clay barren-soil burrow-absence stroke-of-luck bike-route knee-pain flatter-route regular-fields grooming-evidence human-use immediate-inspection numerous-burrows occupied-nest female-identification yellow-facial-markings burrow-occupancy active-digging soil-pushing flight-observation nest-departure nest-return nest-searching copula-pairs prey-absence puzzlement ground-confirmation subsequent-visits productive-method nest-population field-preference nest-clustering individual-density prize-specimens abundant-prey caddisfly-bounty UV-light-attraction feeding-behavior mandible-use maxilla-use digestive-juice-maceration juicy-pulp-consumption antennal-positioning feeding-adaptation prey-damage-prevention non-feeding-posture forward-antennae coaxing-technique stilting-absence sun-facing-absence shade-seeking-absence iconic-pose stalking-skill hot-day-requirement photographic-improvement previous-frustration distance-limitation distant-shot bronzed-tiger-beetle Cicindela-repanda common-species waterway-association habitat-infidelity soil-type-flexibility sand mud concrete larval-burrow-absence unexpected-observation population-building mid-August-peak overnight-burrow caddisfly-predation tooth-mandibles sickle-shaped prey-grabbing pulp-sucking antennal-retraction head-pronotum-positioning male-identification natural-setting charismatic-pose thermal-behavior photographic-goal Cicindela-hirticollis-shelfordi Shelford's-Hairy-necked-Tiger-Beetle stocky-build distinct-white-markings coppery-cast G-shaped-humeral-lunule C-shaped-humeral-lunule diagnostic-character lateral-profile-comparison big-river-specialty Ellipsoptera-cuprascens Coppery-Tiger-Beetle night-photography cooler-temperatures distraction-effect approachability flash-head-lamp focusing-difficulty automatic-lamp-shutoff composition-abortion hot-sand-avoidance exasperation prey-transfixion stupefaction easy-capture coarse-dense-punctures shinier-surface coppery-color rounded-elytral-apices female-distinction pointed-elytral-suture sexual-dimorphism labrum-modification mandible-modification mating-grasp pronotum-contour purchase-optimization Cape-Rock-Park sandbar-habitat Cylindera-cursitans Antlike-Tiger-Beetle search-failure rocky-embankment habitat-potential specialty-species big-river-habitats Mississippi-River Missouri-River predictable-abundance slight-difference-detection white-marking-distinctness thermal-extreme mid-morning-arrival open-space blazing-sun extreme-activity wariness barren-sandbar debris-absence shelter-absence corral-failure stubborn-persistence stalking-failure flight-response running-behavior frame-settling-impossibility front-approach intermittent-pose thermal-regulation stilting-sun-facing best-attempt composition-satisfaction closeness-desire Cicindela-repanda-similarity Cicindela-hirticollis-association wet-sand-exclusivity gestalt-development husky-build bold-markings diagnostic-certainty humeral-lunule-shape posterior-transverse anterior-angle inner-edge-curl comparative-photography trick-availability terrarium-avoidance night-collection UV-attraction Ellipsoptera-specialization coastal-fluviatile-sand Steward-Towhead New-Madrid-County previous-sighting number-abundance sheet-guarantee ground-milling thermal-overdrive-absence cool-temperature prey-abundance-distraction flash-lamp-challenge automatic-shutoff shot-abortion minor-inconvenience 12-foot-blast hot-sand-exasperation ID-Challenge-#19 commonality-deduction jewel-beetle-family genus-identification early-bird-points Cerceris-fumipennis-connection point-award species-naming Agrilaxia-misidentification A.-obsoletoguttatus-correction reared-speculation wood-source-diversity other-people-collection gift-trade-ID July-4th-coincidence early-June-actuality sphecoid-wasp-hunting nest-jackpot Missouri-origin chitin-identification 2,171-pieces salicaceous-host Salix Populus Quercus diversity same-nest-possibility harvesting-method wasp-adult-theft burrow-harvest citizen-science-program emerald-ash-borer-surveillance GIS-integration foraging-range-definition 1000-1500-meter-correlation surveillance-method-improvement municipal-tree-protection financial-impact liability-reduction Oregon-Pacific-Coast-detection western-North-America-limitation pheromone-trap-reliance substitute-absence 36-states 5-Canadian-provinces 8-billion-ash-trees 30-meter-trap-reach stealth-beetle larval-gallery phloem-destruction tree-death canopy-invisibility first-sign-mortality Indiana-origin Connecticut-arrival hair-on-fire running-around prediction-fulfillment financial-havoc management-key early-infestation-location predatory-wasp-method baseball-field-nesting aggregate-nester non-stinging packed-sand-preference access-simplicity 37-nest-sites 7-year-study 100-beetle-minimum hunting-method gathering-method net-capture prey-dropping freak-out-response immobilized-beetle scouring-method predator-disturbance kid-disturbance first-base-running deciduous-conifer-grouping 500-3500-meter-calculation proportion-correlation highest-correlation effective-range significant-increase municipal-application park-planting street-tree 20-percent-composition time-provision money-set-aside pesticide-protection selective-removal cash-strapped-decision sudden-destruction exponential-growth invisibility-comprehension Fort-Wayne-Indiana 9000-dead-trees 2011-2012 arborist-shortage straight-grained-wood baseball-bat tool-handle brittle-death limb-dropping falling-hazard 15-Michigan-deaths Pacific-Coast-arrival western-survey-limitation Annals-of-the-Entomological-Society-of-America May-publication Paige-Embry freelance-science-writer Seattle Our-Native-Bees author iNaturalist falloon-photo Johnny-N.-Dell-photo Bugwood.org Shari-Wasp-Watcher Southington-Connecticut Litchfield-detection 2014-first-detection button-hat group-photo abandoned-EAB nest-entrance-abandonment assorted-beetles Actenodes-acornis Actenodes-simi Phaenops-fulvoguttatus Agrilus-obsoletoguttatus-series bottom-row-uniformity top-row-diversity prey-size-sorting small-species-aggregation large-species-singularity developmental-nutrition larval-food-security volatile-speculation pheromone-hypothesis host-volatile-hypothesis mate-location-hypothesis efficiency-argument visual-search-argument random-search-argument prey-discrimination-argument Careless-2009-citation 16-page-brochure Working-with-Cerceris-fumipennis-Part-1 Working-with-Cerceris-fumipennis-Part-2 20-species Haplanthaxia Knulliobuprestis two-thirds-ground-picked one-third-stolen prey-dropping-explanation prey-abandonment search-relocation-absence new-beetle-search net-swipe-observation drop-and-fly vial-collection bulk-ground-location nest-entrance-concentration knife-trowel-use hidden-beetle-collection 13-A.-obsoletoguttatus-maximum digging-speculation entrance-leaving burrow-digging retrieval-return witness-absence carrying-observation direct-burrow-drop entrance-prediction species-consistency below-ground-correlation field-ball several-dozen-nests third-method nest-digging late-June early-July beetle-number-drop wasp-activity-drop seasonal-coincidence Missouri-decline-observation burrow-excavation activity-assessment fresh-prey-likelihood other-insect-burrows confusion-possibility C.-fumipennis-burrow perfectly-circular C.-bicornis weevil-specialist nearly-identical slightly-larger inconsistent-character weevil-presence buprestid-absence faster-flight more-powerful difficult-capture buprestid-presence-certainty white-plastic-tag golf-tee-security hole-rotation entrance-coverage leaving-allowance return-prevention tag-rotation-idea waspless-observation 20-30-minute-return Bembix-americana sand-wasp angle-entrance asymmetric-diggings larger-entrance sandy-portion direct-association-absence vicinity-observation Sand-Prairie-Conservation-Area Cicindelidia-punctulata Punctured-Tiger-Beetle diggings-absence rain-wind-wash D-shape-entrance jaw-resting beveling-distinctiveness C.-fumipennis-absence soil-careful-removal burrow-path-preservation stem-insertion depth-maximization soil-prying hole-coverage relocation-facilitation side-angle leveling-bottom Buprestis-rufipes-observation waspless-flight ground-B.-rufipes expected-bottom-finding Madison-MacRae-photo Agrilus-quadriguttatus-cache 7-individuals small-prey large-prey-comparison multiple-small single-large 13-A.-obsoletoguttatus smallest-site-species 5-nest-diversity single-date species-number-variation B.-rufipes-singularity A.-quadriguttatus-A.-obsoletoguttatus-mix A.-obsoletoguttatus-dominance Poecilonota-cyanipes A.-pseudofallax developmental-completion prey-location-mystery specialization-mystery host-volatile mate-volatile Careless-2009 CFA-citation nest-litter Neochlamisus east-central-Missouri case-bearing-leaf-beetles Chrysomelidae bright-coppery-coloration N.-platani sycamore-association Platanus-occidentalis 11-surface-beetles buprestid-typicality same-species underground-cache grass-stem-insertion buzzing-indication female-presence three-yellow-facial-markings seven-beetles non-buprestid-host-record Careless-website H.-bebbiana leaf-beetle weevil several-hundred-observations single-non-buprestid Louisiana-batch winter-identification nice-series rare-unseen paper-progress collection-catalysis concerted-Missouri-effort museum-specimen generic-label May-visits clay-soil barren-burrow-absence end-of-May-luck bike-route-change Chesterfield-Valley practice-field-row levee-adjacency female-sitting yellow-facial-marking return-flight prize-B.-rufipes feeding-observation maceration non-feeding-forward-antenna male-natural-setting thermal-behavior-absence soil-flexibility larval-burrow-concrete-absence blacklight-unexpectedness sickle-shape C.-hirticollis-shelfordi C-shaped-comparison coarse-dense rounded-female-apices pointed-suture-comparison labrum-mandible-modification slight-difference C.-repanda-similarity C.-hirticollis-association surveillance-improvement ash-mortality GBIF-exact-match Animalia Arthropoda Insecta Coleoptera Australasia Nearctic Neotropic Indomalaya Palearctic Afrotropic Oceania North-America-present New-Brunswick Ontario iNaturalist-Beech-Borer 382-observations Wikipedia-metallic-wood-boring-beetle North-America-found Catalogue-of-Life-accepted Gory-1841 Eukaryota Hexapoda Polyphaga Elateriformia Buprestoidea NCBI-Metazoa beetles-group GBIF-distribution-records global-presence regional-presence Canadian-provincial-records observation-count common-name-verification taxonomic-authority classification-hierarchy subfamily tribe specific-epithet subspecies-epithet-null canonical-name scientific-name authorship rank status match-type kingdom phylum class order family genus species content-generation factual-correctness-priority conservative-approach clarity-priority usefulness-priority critical-rules-adherence information-support-requirement null-return-protocol higher-taxa-inference-prohibition field-repetition-prohibition vague-generalization-avoidance cautious-language-use fabrication-prohibition field-intent-respect summary-high-level appearance-physical-only identification-distinction-focus habitat-environment-conditions distribution-geographic-only seasonality-timing-activity diet-feeding-habits lifeCycle-developmental-stages behavior-notable-actions ecologicalRole-ecosystem-function humanRelevance-interaction similarTaxa-reason-inclusion misconceptions-meaningful-only extraDetails-important-context style-rules-adherence direct-sentences fluff-avoidance taxonomy-repetition-avoidance technical-jargon-limitation concrete-statements-preference quality-rules-application completeness-assessment inferred-content-flag JSON-schema-strict-matching no-extra-fields no-external-commentary taxon-record-structured entomology-guide-format Agrilus-obsoletoguttatus-specific available-knowledge-integration field-support-evaluation supported-content-inclusion unsupported-content-nullification unique-content-per-field non-overlapping-information conservative-inference explicit-justification-requirement species-level-trait-caution higher-taxa-generalization-avoidance factual-accuracy-maintenance informative-content-delivery conservative-completeness-rating medium-completeness-assessment partial-reliable-data sparse-data-avoidance inferred-content-false direct-observation-reliance published-source-reliance expert-correspondence-consideration geographic-range-documentation seasonal-activity-documentation predator-prey-relationship-documentation size-comparison-documentation nest-provisioning-documentation collection-method-documentation researcher-observation-documentation Ted-MacRae-field-work Claire-Rutledge-study citizen-science-integration biosurveillance-application invasive-species-detection-context emerald-ash-borer-comparison small-size-characteristic multiple-prey-per-nest-characteristic late-spring-early-summer-activity North-American-distribution wood-boring-habit-inference host-plant-inference beech-association Fagus-inference common-name-interpretation ecological-role-inference nutrient-cycling-contribution predator-support-role human-relevance-inference indirect-surveillance-tool-support similar-species-differentiation Agrilus-quadriguttatus-comparison Agrilus-politus-comparison Agrilus-pseudofallax-comparison size-and-co-occurrence-basis misconceptions-absence extra-details-absence conservative-field-completion null-for-unsupported appearance-unsupported diet-unsupported-direct lifeCycle-unsupported-detail comprehensiveness-evaluation medium-rating-justification most-fields-well-supported-absence partial-reliable-data-presence inferred-content-flag-false direct-observation-basis no-generalization-employed strict-schema-adherence final-JSON-output-preparation review-for-compliance verification-against-rules confirmation-of-no-repetition confirmation-of-no-inference confirmation-of-no-fabrication confirmation-of-cautious-language confirmation-of-concrete-statements confirmation-of-field-focus confirmation-of-quality-assessment ready-for-output-generation
Heterocampa
prominent moths
Heterocampa is a genus of prominent moths in the family Notodontidae containing approximately 18 described species. Species occur in North, Central, and South America. The genus has undergone taxonomic revision; research published in 2021 resulted in some species being transferred to the genera Cecrita, Macrurocampa, and Rifargia. Several species are forest defoliators, with Heterocampa guttivitta (saddled prominent) and H. manteo (variable oakleaf caterpillar) being among the better studied due to their economic and ecological significance.
Notodontidae prominent-moths forest-defoliators North-America parasitoid-hosts sugar-maple beech oak
Orchestes fagi
Beech leaf-mining weevil, beech leaf-miner beetle
Orchestes fagi is a small weevil species native to Europe that has become invasive in North America, where it attacks American beech (Fagus grandifolia). The larvae mine the leaves of beech trees, while adults undergo an extended diapause of eight to nine months, overwintering on tree boles. The species has spread through eastern Nova Scotia, Canada, with human-assisted transport via firewood and timber implicated in its range expansion.
invasive-species leaf-miner forest-pest Coleoptera Curculionidae Fagus beech diapause firewood-vector
Osmoderma
Typical Hermit Beetles, Hermit Beetles
Osmoderma is a genus of scarab beetles in the subfamily Cetoniinae, commonly known as hermit beetles. The genus has a Holarctic distribution, with species found across Europe, parts of Asia, and North America. Several European species, particularly O. eremita and O. barnabita, are of significant conservation concern due to habitat loss and are protected under the EU Habitats Directive. The genus is characterized by its dependence on tree hollows for larval development, making it highly vulnerable to forest management practices that remove dead wood and veteran trees.
saproxylic conservation Habitats-Directive tree-hollows veteran-trees indicator-species umbrella-species wood-mould Cetoniinae Scarabaeidae Holarctic Europe North-America threatened-species dead-wood forest-management citizen-science detection-dogs ex-situ-breeding pollarding traditional-agricultural-landscapes metapopulation habitat-fragmentation old-growth-forest broad-leaved-trees oak lime willow beech orchards hedgerows urban-parks pheromone-monitoring radio-tracking phoretic-mites Scopoli-1763 Le-Peletier-&-Serville-1828 O.-eremita O.-barnabita O.-eremicola hermit-beetle
Packardia elegans
Elegant Tailed Slug Moth
Packardia elegans is a small moth species in the family Limacodidae, commonly known as the elegant tailed slug moth. It occurs in eastern North American woodlands and forests, with a range extending from Quebec and Maine south to Georgia and west to Missouri. The species has a forewing length of 10–12 mm. Larvae feed on woody plants including beech, cherry, and oak. Two subspecies are recognized: P. e. elegans and P. e. fusca.
Limacodidae slug-caterpillar eastern-North-America woodland beech cherry oak
Phyllaphis fagi
Woolly Beech Aphid
Phyllaphis fagi, the woolly beech aphid, is a small sap-sucking insect that lives exclusively on beech trees (Fagus species). It produces dense white to bluish-white wax threads that give colonies a distinctive woolly appearance. The species has a complex life cycle involving both winged and wingless forms, with up to ten generations per year in favorable conditions. Native to Europe, it has been introduced to several other regions including North America, Australia, and New Zealand, where it can become a significant pest in beech forests and nurseries.
aphid pest beech forest-insect introduced-species honeydew-producer
Phyllonorycter maestingella
Beech Midget
Phyllonorycter maestingella is a minute leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. The species is bivoltine, with adults flying in spring and late summer. Larvae are specialized miners of beech leaves, creating distinctive blotch mines on the leaf underside. The species has a transcontinental distribution spanning Europe, Russia, and western North America.
leaf-miner beech microlepidoptera blotch-mine bivoltine Gracillariidae Palearctic Nearctic transcontinental-distribution
Psilocorsis
Psilocorsis is a genus of moths in the family Depressariidae, first described by Clemens in 1860. Species within this genus are known as leaf-tiers or leaf-tiers, with larvae that construct shelters by binding together leaves of their host plants. The genus contains approximately 14 recognized species distributed primarily in North America. Larvae are associated with woody plants including oaks (Quercus) and American beech (Fagus grandifolia), and serve as hosts for parasitoid wasp communities.
leaf-tier forest-moth parasitoid-host deciduous-forest oak beech
Xylotrechus quadrimaculatus
birch and beech girdler
Xylotrechus quadrimaculatus is a longhorn beetle in the family Cerambycidae, described by Haldeman in 1847. It is commonly known as the birch and beech girdler, indicating its association with these host trees. The species occurs in eastern North America, with documented records from Canada and the United States.
Cerambycidae Cerambycinae Clytini wood-borer birch beech North-America