Insects and Spiders - native

Pine Sawyer Beetle (Ergates spiculatus) on Aug 19, 2020

Submitter has sample

Description of specimen

dead and dry large beetle in the center of a cement pathway. Long antennae, squared off wings, size of a standard Bic lighter.

Commentary

This is the ponderous borer (Ergates spiculatus) which is native and widely present across the state and may have traveled or hitchhiked to your area. They are not pests of concern for hardwoods nor conifers:
https://www.oregon.gov/odf/Documents/forestbenefits/Woodboringbeetles.pdf

Christine Buhl
Aug. 25, 2020, 9:50 a.m.

Location

Found dead female Ponderous Borer on our walkway in our home in Redmond. We've been camping multiple times this summer at North Twin Lake, Lava Lake, Lower Bridge on the Metolius and Cinder Hill campground at East Lake. I assume it hitched a ride with us at some point but we don't know when. I do still have the specimen if requested, wasn't sure if this counts as an invasive species in Oregon.

Expert Reviewer

Christine Buhl
Oregon Dept. of Forestry

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