Wood-boring
Guides
Acmaeops
Acmaeops is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) in the subfamily Lepturinae. The genus contains several species distributed across the Holarctic region. Some species historically placed in Acmaeops have been reassigned to the genus Gnathacmaeops. Members of this genus are associated with coniferous forests.
Acmaeops discoideus
Acmaeops discoideus is a flower longhorn beetle (subfamily Lepturinae) distributed across the United States and Canada. The species feeds on Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana) as a larva, boring in the wood of this conifer host. Adults are active during autumn and have been observed into December in some regions. The species was formerly spelled A. discoidea, but A. discoideus is now the accepted name.
Actenodes simi
Actenodes simi is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Fisher in 1940. It has been recorded from Tennessee and Missouri in the United States, with specimens collected by the predatory wasp Cerceris fumipennis. The species is part of the diverse jewel beetle fauna of North America, where it occurs as a relatively uncommon member of its genus.
Amannus
Amannus is a small genus of longhorn beetles (family Cerambycidae) in the tribe Trachyderini. The genus contains three recognized species: Amannus atriplicis (Texas), A. pectoralis, and A. vittiger. Amannus atriplicis has been documented developing as larvae in living branches of Atriplex canescens (fourwinged saltbush), with adults emerging from pupal cells within the host plant tissue. The genus is poorly studied, with limited information available on most species.
Ambrosiodmus obliquus
Ambrosiodmus obliquus is a species of ambrosia beetle in the weevil family Curculionidae, first described by Blackman in 1928. Like other members of the genus Ambrosiodmus, this beetle engages in a specialized symbiotic relationship with wood-decaying fungi, specifically species in the genus Flavodon. The beetle farms these fungi in galleries excavated within wood, where the fungus serves as the primary food source for both adults and larvae. This species has been documented across multiple continents including North America, the Caribbean, Middle America, Africa, and South America.
Ambrosiodmus tachygraphus
Ambrosiodmus tachygraphus is a North American ambrosia beetle described by Hopkins in 1915. Like other members of the genus Ambrosiodmus, it engages in obligate mutualism with fungal symbionts, specifically the wood-decaying fungus Flavodon ambrosius. This partnership enables the beetle to colonize and reproduce in dead or dying wood by farming fungi that digest cellulose and lignin, converting wood into nutritious food for beetle larvae and adults. The species is part of a group known for forming semi-social colonies with thousands of individuals, facilitated by their unique ability to cultivate a true wood-degrading fungus rather than merely extracting readily available nutrients from freshly dead tissues.
Aneflomorpha
Aneflomorpha is a genus of longhorn beetles in the family Cerambycidae, subfamily Cerambycinae, and tribe Elaphidiini. The genus was established by Casey in 1912. Species in this genus are primarily nocturnal and have been documented in the southwestern United States and Mexico. They are associated with woody vegetation, particularly oaks and mesquites, and are frequently attracted to ultraviolet and mercury-vapor light stations.
Anobiini
death-watch beetles
Anobiini is a tribe of beetles within the family Ptinidae, commonly known as death-watch beetles. The tribe contains at least 6 genera and approximately 20 described species. Members of this tribe are wood-boring beetles known for their association with timber and wooden structures. The common name "death-watch" derives from the tapping sounds produced by some species, historically associated with superstitions about impending death.
Anthaxia aenescens
Anthaxia aenescens is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species was described by Casey in 1884. It is distributed in North America.
Anthaxia viridicornis
Anthaxia viridicornis is a small metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, placed in the subgenus Haplanthaxia. It is native to North America and has been reared from dead willow (Salix caroliniana). The species exhibits variation that has been discussed in taxonomic literature, particularly in relation to its distinction from the similar A. viridifrons.
Arhopalus asperatus
Arhopalus asperatus is a longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1859. Adults range from 18 to 33 mm in length, with antennae measuring approximately 50-75% of body length. The species occurs across western North America, with records from Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba) through the western United States. Like other members of the genus, it is associated with coniferous wood, particularly pines.
Astyleiopus variegatus
Variegated Longhorned Beetle
Astyleiopus variegatus is a species of longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, representing the sole member of its monotypic genus. It has been reared from dead branches of red buckeye (Aesculus pavia) in Missouri, constituting a documented larval host record. The species is distributed across eastern and central North America, with records from Canada and the United States.
Aulacidae
Aulacid Wasps
Aulacidae is a small, cosmopolitan family of parasitoid wasps in the superfamily Evanioidea, containing approximately 200 known species across two extant genera: Aulacus and Pristaulacus. These wasps are primarily endoparasitoids of wood-boring insects, specifically targeting larvae of wood wasps (Xiphydriidae) and xylophagous beetles in the families Cerambycidae and Buprestidae. They are closely related to Gasteruptiidae and Evaniidae, sharing the distinctive evanioid trait of having the metasoma attached high on the propodeum above the hind coxae. Despite their wide distribution, aulacids are rarely collected and poorly studied, particularly in the Southern Hemisphere.
Brentus
Brentus is the type genus of primitive weevils in the family Brentidae and tribe Brentini. Species are distributed in the Americas, with most diversity occurring in tropical regions. The genus exhibits extreme sexual dimorphism in rostrum and mandible morphology, with females possessing elongated, slender rostrums for wood-boring oviposition and males having short, robust mandibles used in territorial combat. These beetles develop as larvae in the wood of living or wounded trees.
Callirhipidae
Callirhipid Cedar Beetles, Cedar Beetles
Callirhipidae is a family of elateriform beetles containing approximately 175 valid species in 10 genera. The family is distributed throughout low-latitude regions worldwide, with notable absence from tropical Africa and Madagascar. The only North American representative is Zenoa picea, found across the eastern and central United States. Larvae develop in decaying hardwood, particularly oak and hickory, with a two-year life cycle. Adults are generally nocturnal and attracted to lights.
Cerocephalidae
Cerocephalidae is a small family of chalcid wasps within the superfamily Chalcidoidea. The family was elevated from subfamily status within Pteromalidae in 1946 by Gahan. Most species are parasitoids of small wood-boring beetles, particularly bark beetles in the families Curculionidae (Scolytinae). The family contains 13 extant genera including Acerocephala, Cerocephala, and Theocolax, plus three fossil genera.
Chalcolepidius apacheanus
Apache click beetle
Chalcolepidius apacheanus is a large click beetle (family Elateridae) native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The species belongs to a genus characterized by metallic coloration and substantial body size among click beetles. Field observations indicate adults are associated with dead or dying coniferous trees, particularly ponderosa pine, where they have been observed at the base of trunks and in association with wood-boring beetle galleries. The species is active during summer months in montane pine-oak woodlands.
Chramesus
crenulate bark beetles
Chramesus is a genus of bark beetles in the family Curculionidae, established by J.L. LeConte in 1868. The genus comprises at least 100 described species, commonly referred to as crenulate bark beetles. Members of this genus are small weevils that inhabit wood-boring ecological niches. The genus has been documented in North America, with records from the United States including Vermont.
Comadia alleni
Comadia alleni is a cossid moth species described by Brown in 1975. It is known from California, where adults fly during late spring. The species is characterized by relatively small forewings for the family, measuring 17–18 mm in length. Like other members of the genus Comadia, it belongs to a group of wood-boring moths whose larvae develop in plant stems or roots.
Corthylina
Corthylina is a subtribe of small bark beetles within the tribe Corthylini (subfamily Scolytinae). Members are characterized by compact bodies and are primarily associated with woody plants. The subtribe includes economically significant species that tunnel in the phloem of trees and shrubs. Many species exhibit host-specific relationships with particular tree genera.
Cossidae
carpenter millers, cossid millers, goat moths, carpenter moths
Cossidae, commonly known as carpenter millers or goat moths, is a family of large moths in the order Lepidoptera. The family contains over 110 genera with nearly 700 described species, with many more awaiting description. Members are found worldwide and are predominantly nocturnal, with the exception of the Southeast Asian subfamily Ratardinae. The family includes some of the largest moths by mass, such as Endoxyla cinereus, which can weigh up to 30 grams with a wingspan reaching 23 centimeters. Many species are economically significant as wood-boring pests, while others have cultural importance as food sources.
Cossinae
carpenter moths, goat moths
Cossinae is the nominate subfamily of Cossidae, comprising carpenter or goat moths. Larvae of several species are significant wood-boring pests, including the carpenterworm (Prionoxystus robiniae) and goat moth (Cossus cossus). In Chile, caterpillars of Chilecomadia moorei are commercially harvested as fishing bait and terrarium pet food under the trade name 'butterworms'. The subfamily has undergone recent taxonomic revision, with Cossulinae separated from Cossinae, though this was not universally accepted initially.
Cossoninae
Cossoninae is a subfamily of true weevils within the family Curculionidae. Members of this subfamily are characterized by their small to medium size and association with woody substrates, including timber, leaf litter, and plant roots. The group exhibits considerable diversity in habitat preference, with species found in marine/coastal environments, forest leaf litter, and specialized niches such as sand dunes and the phloem of living trees. Many species possess reduced or absent eyes (anophthalmous or microphthalmous) and exhibit endogean or cryptic lifestyles. The subfamily includes both economically significant timber pests and ecologically important decomposers.
Cossonini
Cossonini is a tribe of weevils within the subfamily Cossoninae, family Curculionidae. The tribe contains approximately 60 described genera distributed across multiple continents. Members of this tribe are generally small to medium-sized weevils associated with wood-boring or bark-inhabiting habits. The group was established by Schönherr in 1825 and remains taxonomically active with ongoing revisions of constituent genera.
Cryptotermes
drywood termites
Cryptotermes is a genus of drywood termites in the family Kalotermitidae, comprising approximately 70 described species with significant economic importance as structural pests. Unlike subterranean termites, species in this genus do not require soil contact and infest dry, seasoned wood directly. The genus has a global distribution spanning tropical and subtropical regions, with notable pest species including C. brevis (West Indian drywood termite) and C. dudleyi. Some species exhibit distinctive morphological adaptations, such as the recently described C. mobydicki with its elongated, whale-like soldier head.
Cyclorhipidion pelliculosum
Cyclorhipidion pelliculosum is a species of ambrosia beetle in the weevil family Curculionidae, described by Hulcr & Cognato in 2010. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with fungal cultivation in wood, though specific biological details remain poorly documented. The species has been recorded from both North America and Southern Asia.
Dinoderinae
Dinoderinae is a subfamily of wood-boring beetles within the family Bostrichidae, established by C. G. Thomson in 1863. The subfamily contains five to seven genera of beetles that live in wood, with some species recognized as pests of stored wood-based products and other stored goods. Members are characterized by their association with woody substrates and their economic significance in certain contexts.
Dolichomitus
ichneumon wasps
Dolichomitus is a genus of ichneumonid wasps containing at least 70 described species. The genus name derives from Greek roots meaning 'long thread,' referring to the elongated ovipositor characteristic of these parasitoids. Species in this genus are parasitoids of wood-boring insect larvae, using their long ovipositors to reach hosts deep within tree trunks and branches. Some species exhibit striking aposematic coloration, including metallic blue and yellow patterns that may deter avian predators.
Eriotremex formosanus
Asian Horntail
Eriotremex formosanus is an Asian horntail wasp (family Siricidae) native to Asia that has been introduced and established in the southeastern United States. Unlike most siricid wasps, which specialize on conifers, this species exhibits unusually broad host associations, utilizing both coniferous and hardwood tree species. Females possess a long ovipositor for drilling into wood and deposit eggs along with fungal symbionts (Amylostereum areolatum) that larvae feed upon during development. The species targets stressed, dying, or recently dead trees rather than healthy timber.
Ernobiini
Ernobiini is a tribe of deathwatch and spider beetles in the family Ptinidae, containing at least 4 genera and approximately 70 described species. Members of this tribe are small wood-boring beetles whose larvae develop in dead wood or dry plant material. The tribe was established by Pic in 1912 and is classified within the subfamily Ernobiinae.
Etorofus anthracinus
A species of longhorn beetle (Cerambycidae) first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1875. Adults are found in North America and have been observed seeking dead parts of living trees for development. The species belongs to the subfamily Lepturinae, a group commonly known as flower longhorns.
Gastrallini
death-watch beetles
Gastrallini is a tribe of death-watch beetles within the family Ptinidae. The tribe contains at least four genera: Gastrallus, Falsogastrallus, Hemigastrallus, and Mimogastrallus. Members are wood-boring beetles, with some species known to infest seasoned timber and wooden structures. The genus Gastrallus includes species of economic concern as pests of hardwoods.
Givira
carpenter moths
Givira is a genus of carpenter moths (family Cossidae, subfamily Hypoptinae) established by Walker in 1856. The genus contains approximately 70 described species distributed across the Neotropics and southwestern North America. Several species are economically significant as wood-boring pests of cultivated plants, including Givira ethela, which damages grapevines in California. Adults are typically nocturnal with variable wing coloration ranging from dark brown to satiny white.
Gnathotrichus pilosus
Gnathotrichus pilosus is an ambrosia beetle species in the family Curculionidae, described by Wood in 1973. The species is distributed across North America and Middle America. Like other ambrosia beetles in the genus Gnathotrichus, it is presumed to cultivate fungal symbionts within wood galleries, though specific ecological details for this species remain limited in published literature.
Hadrobregmini
death-watch beetles
Hadrobregmini is a tribe of death-watch beetles within the family Ptinidae. The tribe contains at least 3 genera and approximately 16 described species. Members of this group are wood-boring beetles, with several genera—particularly Hadrobregmus and Priobium—containing species that infest seasoned timber and structural wood. The tribe is distinguished from other ptinid tribes by specific morphological features of the antennae and pronotum.
Ibaliidae
ibaliid wasps
The Ibaliidae are a small family of parasitoid wasps in the superfamily Cynipoidea, comprising three extant genera (Ibalia, Heteribalia, and Eileenella) with approximately 20 species worldwide. Unlike most cynipoids, which are phytophagous gall-formers, ibaliids are parasitoids of wood-boring sawfly larvae in the family Siricidae. Adults are notably large for cynipoids, reaching up to 30 mm in length, with a distinctive laterally compressed abdomen. The family is sister to the rest of Cynipoidea excluding the small subfamily Austrocynipidae.
Incisitermes minor
Western Drywood Termite
Incisitermes minor, commonly known as the western drywood termite, is a drywood termite species in the family Kalotermitidae. Native to western North America, it has become established across much of the United States and has been introduced to Hawaii, China, and Japan. It is a significant structural pest, ranking as the second most destructive termite in California after the western subterranean termite (Reticulitermes hesperus), with estimated annual economic impact of approximately $250 million in California and Arizona combined. The species forms one-piece nests entirely within dry wood, does not require soil contact, and exhibits temperature-driven seasonal and daily activity patterns.
Lechriops
Lechriops is a genus of true weevils in the family Curculionidae containing at least 90 described species. The genus was established by Carl Johan Schoenherr in 1825. The genus name is masculine per ICZN Article 30.1.4.3, which specifies that compound genus-group names ending in -ops are to be treated as masculine regardless of derivation or original author treatment. Members are small weevils associated with coniferous trees.
Lepturges angulatus
Lepturges angulatus is a species of longhorn beetle in the subfamily Lamiinae. It was described by LeConte in 1852, with a basionym of Leiopus angulatus. The species has been reared from dead branches of red buckeye (Aesculus pavia) in Missouri, representing a documented larval host association.
Lepturges regularis
Lepturges regularis is a species of longhorn beetle in the subfamily Lamiinae. It was described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1852. The species is considered very uncommonly encountered in the field and has been reared from dead branches of red buckeye (Aesculus pavia), representing a documented larval host association.
Lithurgus chrysurus
Mediterranean wood-boring bee, Golden-tailed Woodborer
Lithurgus chrysurus is a wood-nesting megachilid bee native to the Mediterranean region that has established adventive populations in North America. It is one of the few bees that excavates its own nesting tunnels in wood rather than using pre-existing cavities. The species is univoltine, producing one generation per year, and constructs distinctive silk-lined cocoons for overwintering larvae.
Lyctinae
Powderpost beetles, Powder-post beetles
Lyctinae (powderpost beetles) is a subfamily of approximately 70 species of woodboring beetles within the family Bostrichidae. Members are distinguished by their reduced prothorax, which leaves the head more visible than in most woodboring beetles, and by antennal clubs with two segments. The subfamily includes three tribes—Lyctini, Trogoxylini, and Cephalotomini (the latter now synonymized with Trogoxylini)—and occurs worldwide. Some genera exhibit unusual ecological strategies, including the use of galleries created by other beetles rather than excavating their own.
Lymantor decipiens
Deceptive Bark Beetle
Lymantor decipiens is a species of bark beetle in the weevil family Curculionidae, described by Wood & Bright in 1992. It is a small wood-boring beetle native to eastern North America. The species is known from scattered records in Canada, with observations documented in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Québec. As a member of the genus Lymantor, it is associated with coniferous or deciduous tree hosts, though specific host relationships remain poorly documented.
Macremphytus
Dogwood Sawflies
Macremphytus is a genus of common sawflies in the family Tenthredinidae, comprising at least four described species. The best-known member is Macremphytus tarsatus, commonly called the dogwood sawfly, which is a significant defoliator of dogwood trees in North America. Sawflies in this genus are herbivorous, with larvae feeding on leaves of woody plants. The genus exhibits distinctive larval traits including waxy secretions and overwintering behaviors in wood.
Magdalis
wedge-shaped bark weevils
Magdalis is a genus of wedge-shaped bark weevils in the family Curculionidae, containing at least 20 described species. Species within this genus are associated with woody host plants, including oaks and elms. At least one species, Magdalis armicollis, has been documented as a pest of red oak, causing twig dieback through larval tunneling. The genus has a broad distribution including North America and Eurasia.
Mallodon
hardwood stump borer
Mallodon is a genus of prionine longhorned beetles in the family Cerambycidae. The genus contains approximately eight described species distributed across the Americas, with M. dasystomus being the most widely studied and geographically extensive. Species in this genus are characterized by large body size, prominent mandibles, and association with hardwood hosts. The genus was established by Lacordaire in 1830.
Megarhyssa
Giant Ichneumonid Wasps, Giant Ichneumons, Stump Stabbers
Megarhyssa is a genus of large ichneumonid wasps comprising 37 species distributed worldwide. Females possess extraordinarily elongated ovipositors—up to 14 cm in some species—that enable parasitism of wood-boring horntail larvae deep within tree trunks. The genus exhibits remarkable ecological specialization, with sympatric species partitioning host resources by ovipositor length, allowing coexistence through vertical stratification of host exploitation. These wasps are idiobiont ectoparasitoids, meaning they paralyze and consume their hosts without allowing further development.
Megarhyssa atrata
Black Giant Ichneumonid Wasp
Megarhyssa atrata is the largest known hymenopteran parasitoid, with females possessing an ovipositor that can exceed 130 mm—longer than any other arthropod genital apparatus. The species is primarily black with a yellow head and legs, and lacks the reddish-orange markings found in congeners. It parasitizes the larvae of the pigeon horntail (Tremex columba) deep within decaying hardwood, using remarkable wood-penetrating adaptations. Males aggregate at emergence sites and exhibit distinctive "tergal stroking" behavior, rubbing their abdomen tips against bark.
Megarhyssa nortoni
Norton's giant ichneumonid wasp, western giant ichneumonid wasp
Megarhyssa nortoni is a large ichneumonid wasp native to North America, with two recognized subspecies occupying western and eastern ranges. Females possess an extraordinarily long ovipositor reaching 51–76 mm, used to parasitize horntail wasp larvae deep within wood. Despite their formidable appearance, they are harmless to humans and do not sting. The species has been introduced to several countries as a biological control agent for forest pest horntails.
Megarhyssa nortoni nortoni
Western Giant Ichneumonid Wasp
Megarhyssa nortoni nortoni is a subspecies of giant ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae. Females possess an extraordinarily long ovipositor—among the longest of any insect—that they use to parasitize wood-boring horntail larvae deep within dead or dying hardwood trees. The species is native to western North America and has been introduced to New Zealand as a biological control agent. Despite their formidable appearance, they are harmless to humans and cannot sting.