DOGWOOD TWIG BORER
Oberea tripunctata
LONG HORNED BEETLES (Cerambycidae)
This beetle is about to 5/8ths inch long . It is slender in appearance and its head is dark. Each elytra is yellow with 2 black lines. There are 3 black spots on the top of the thorax.
It prefers flowering dogwood but the adult is found on elm, viburnum, and many fruit trees as well.
The adult emerges from damaged dogwoods in late spring after the new vegetative growth has matured .These beetles fly to the new growth and chew a series of holes around the stem and then another series of holes one fourth to half an inch away. Between these rows of holes the beetles insert eggs into the bark.
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