Insects and Spiders - native

Banded Alder Borer (Rosalia funebris) on Aug 17, 2009

Submitter does not have a specimen

Description of specimen

Black and white beetle, striped, with long antennae. About 3 inches long.

Commentary

This siting was brought to me by a concerned citizen who wished to report the insect, which she believed to be an invasive beetle from Asia. She did not collect a specimen, and I returned to the boat launch and did not find the insect.

I work for the City of Springfield and hope this species is not invasive but wanted to alert you just in case.

Reporter
Aug. 17, 2009, 3:56 a.m.

Kim, there's a very good chance the insect in question is a banded alder borer. We've had several reports of this species and some excellent photos and positive identification from your area over the past month. Without a photo or specimen of the insect, I cannot confirm this, but you can go to this website to see photos and life history of this species - http://bugguide.net/node/view/8975. Thank you for the report!

Lisa DeBruyckere
Aug. 17, 2009, 6:20 a.m.