Rare oak barbel beetle: resin pest of plantings
One of the dangerous pest beetles can be called an oak barbel. Cerambyx cerdo causes great damage to oak, beech, hornbeam, and elm. Beetle larvae pose the greatest threat.
Content
What does an oak barbel look like: photo
Description of the oak tree
Name: Barbel oak big western
Latin: Cerambyx cerdoClass: Insects - Insecta
Squad: Coleoptera - Coleoptera
Family: Barbels - Cerambycidae
 | Habitats: | oak forests of Europe and Asia |
 | Dangerous for: | field oaks |
 | Attitude towards people: | part of the Red Book, protected |
Oak barb larva.
The color of the beetle is pitch black. The length of the body can be about 6,5 cm. The elytra have a reddish tint in the upper part. Whiskers exceed body length. There are coarse black folds on the pronotum. Crimean and Caucasian species have more wrinkled pronotums and strongly tapering elytra posteriorly.
The eggs have an elongated-oblong shape. They are narrowly rounded in the caudal part. The larvae reach 9 cm in length and 2 cm in width. Rough hatching on the pronotal shield.
Life cycle of oak barbel
Insect activity begins in May and lasts until September. They are very fond of light. Habitats - old plantations with coppice origin. Pests usually settle on well-lit and thick oak trees.
After mating, the females lay eggs. This usually occurs in cracks in the tree bark. One female can lay hundreds of eggs at a time. The embryo develops within 10-14 days.
After the hatching of the larvae, they are introduced into the bark. In the first year of life, the larvae are engaged in gnawing passages under the bark. Before winter, they deepen and spend another 2 years in wood. The larvae gnaw out passages about 30 mm wide. Only in the third year of formation, the larvae approach the surface and pupation occurs.
The pupae develop within 1-2 months. Juveniles appear from July to August. Wintering place - larval passages. In the spring, the beetles come out. Before mating, barbels additionally consume oak juice.
Beetle diet and habitat
The oak barbel feeds on hardwoods. This is not done by adults, but by larvae. Favorite delicacy is coppice oak. As a result, the trees weaken and may die. The insect prefers oak forests. Large populations are noted in:
- Ukraine;
- Georgia;
- Russia;
- Caucasus;
- Europe;
- Crimea.
How to protect oak plantings
Although the appearance of the oak barbel beetle is rare, preventive measures should be taken to help protect plantings from insects. To prevent the appearance of a pest, you must:
- timely carry out clear and selective sanitary felling;
- regularly inspect the condition of the trees;
Large barbel on oak.
- clear cutting areas, select dead forests and fallen trees;
- remove newly populated and drying trees;
- attract birds that feed on insects;
- plan the main fellings.
Conclusion
Oak beetle larvae damage wood building materials and can reduce the technical suitability of the tree. However, the insect is one of the rarest species of this family and is listed in the Red Book of all European countries.
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