Saperdini
Guides
Mecas
Mecas is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae: Lamiinae) in the tribe Saperdini, distributed in North America. Species in this genus are stem- and root-borers, with larvae developing internally within host plant tissues. Some species have been documented as pests of cultivated sunflowers, while others are associated with native Asteraceae and other plants. The genus contains approximately 18 described species across three subgenera.
Mecas bicallosa
Mecas bicallosa is a species of longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, first described by Martin in 1924. The species occurs in North and Central America. Like other members of the genus Mecas, it is associated with plants in the sunflower family (Asteraceae), where larvae bore into stems and roots.
Mecas cana
Mecas cana is a longhorn beetle species in the family Cerambycidae, described by Newman in 1840. The species is distributed across North America, including the United States and Mexico. Two subspecies are recognized: Mecas cana cana (the nominate subspecies) and Mecas cana saturnina (LeConte, 1859). Like other members of the genus Mecas, this species is associated with plants in the sunflower family (Asteraceae), where larvae bore into stems and roots.
Mecas confusa
Poplar Gall Borer
Mecas confusa is a longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, described by Chemsak and Linsley in 1973. The species is known from the United States and Mexico. Its common name, Poplar Gall Borer, suggests an association with poplar trees, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Mecas marginella
Mecas marginella is a species of longhorn beetle (family Cerambycidae) first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1873. It is native to the United States and belongs to a genus whose members are commonly known as girdlers due to their habit of girdling plant stems. Like other Mecas species, it likely develops as a stem- and root-borer in host plants, though specific details for this species remain poorly documented.
Mecas menthae
Mecas menthae is a longhorn beetle species in the family Cerambycidae, described by Chemsak and Linsley in 1973. It occurs in Mexico and the United States. The genus Mecas includes several species associated with sunflowers and related plants in the Asteraceae family, where larvae typically bore into stems and roots.
Mecas pergrata
Mecas pergrata is a longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, described by Thomas Say in 1824. Adults are 6–12 mm in length with gray pubescence. The species is a stem- and root-borer that exploits plants in the sunflower family (Asteraceae), including cultivated sunflowers. It is known from Mexico and the United States.
Oberea affinis
Raspberry Cane Borer
Oberea affinis is a species of longhorn beetle in the family Cerambycidae, first described by Leng & Hamilton in 1896. Commonly known as the Raspberry Cane Borer, this species belongs to the genus Oberea, which contains numerous stem-boring beetles associated with various host plants. The species is part of the tribe Saperdini (or Obereini, depending on classification system) within the subfamily Lamiinae.
Saperda calcarata
Poplar Borer
Saperda calcarata, commonly known as the poplar borer, is a longhorned beetle (Cerambycidae) first described by Thomas Say in 1824. The species is native to North America, occurring in Canada and the United States. Larvae are significant pests of balsam poplar and related Populus species, tunneling at the junction of the root and stem where they cause structural damage that can girdle and kill trees. The species exhibits a two-year life cycle in western Canada and possesses a recognized variety, Saperda calcarata var. adspersa, distinguished by coloration differences between sexes.
Saperda cretata
Spotted Apple Tree Borer
Saperda cretata is a longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, described by Newman in 1838. It is distributed across Canada and the United States. The species is commonly known as the Spotted Apple Tree Borer, indicating a likely association with apple and related trees in the rose family (Rosaceae). Like other members of the genus Saperda, it is expected to have larvae that bore into wood, though specific details of its biology remain poorly documented in available sources.
Saperda fayi
Thorn-limb Borer
Saperda fayi is a species of longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, described by Bland in 1863. It belongs to the genus Saperda, a group of medium-sized cerambycids commonly associated with woody plants. The species is known from Canada and the United States, with records from New Brunswick, Ontario, and Québec in Canada. Two infraspecific varieties have been described: var. shoemakeri and var. immaculipennis. As a member of the Lamiinae subfamily, it likely develops as a larva in living or recently dead woody tissue.
Saperda horni
Saperda horni is a species of longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, described by Joutel in 1902. It is known from Canada and the United States. The species name is frequently misspelled as "hornii" in literature and databases. Taxonomic authorities currently treat Saperda horni as a synonym of Saperda hornii Monné & Giesbert, 1994, though the original spelling horni has priority. The species belongs to the genus Saperda, which includes wood-boring beetles that typically attack stressed or weakened trees.
Saperda inornata
Poplar-gall Saperda
Saperda inornata is a longhorned beetle (Cerambycidae) native to North America, closely associated with trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) throughout its life cycle. Larvae develop within living aspen trees, tunneling through wood and inner bark, while adults feed on bark and other tree tissues. The species was described by Thomas Say in 1824 and occurs across Canada and the United States. It has been observed in Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Ontario in Canada, as well as the northern United States.
Saperda moesta
Saperda moesta is a species of longhorn beetle in the family Cerambycidae, described by LeConte in 1850. It belongs to the subfamily Lamiinae and tribe Saperdini. The species is recognized as valid by major taxonomic databases including GBIF and NCBI, though Catalogue of Life lists it as a synonym. Distribution records indicate presence in Canada and the contiguous United States.
Saperda moesta moesta
A North American subspecies of longhorn beetle in the family Cerambycidae. Adults are characterized by elongated bodies with exceptionally long antennae typical of the family. The subspecific status indicates geographic variation within the broader species Saperda moesta, which belongs to a genus known for wood-boring larvae that develop in living or stressed trees.
Saperda moesta tulari
Saperda moesta tulari is a subspecies of longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, subfamily Lamiinae. Described by Joutel in 1904, this taxon is currently recognized as an accepted subspecies of Saperda moesta. The subspecies belongs to a genus of flat-faced longhorns known for their association with woody host plants. Distribution records indicate presence in Canada and the conterminous United States.
Saperda mutica
Saperda mutica is a longhorned beetle species in the family Cerambycidae, described by Thomas Say in 1824. It is native to North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Like other members of the genus Saperda, it is a wood-boring beetle whose larvae develop in living or stressed trees. The species is part of a taxonomically challenging genus where species identification often requires careful examination of morphological details.
Saperda vestita
Linden Borer
Saperda vestita is a longhorned beetle (Cerambycidae) native to North America, commonly known as the Linden Borer. The species was described by Thomas Say in 1824. Adults have been recorded from willow trees, and the species has been the subject of gut microbiome research comparing its bacterial associates to those of other wood-boring beetles.