Stem-engineer
Guides
Oncideres
Twig Girdling Beetles, Twig Girdlers
Oncideres is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae: Lamiinae) containing over 120 species distributed throughout the Nearctic and Neotropics. These beetles are commonly known as twig girdlers due to the distinctive behavior of females chewing around branches to cause them to break and fall. The larvae develop within the girdled, decomposing wood. Several species are economically significant pests of fruit trees, pecans, and forest trees, while others play roles in ecosystem engineering by altering host plant population structure.