Pine-wood-nematode
Guides
Arhopalus rusticus
rust pine borer
Arhopalus rusticus is a longhorned beetle (Cerambycidae: Spondylinae) native to coniferous forests of the Northern Hemisphere. Adults are nocturnal and attracted to light, hiding under bark during daylight. The species has been introduced to Australia, New Zealand, and South America through global trade and is considered a significant forestry pest. It is a suspected vector of the pine wood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, though research indicates its oviposition behavior does not facilitate nematode transmission. Males produce an aggregation-sex pheromone, (S)-fuscumol, which has potential applications for detection and monitoring.