I have not previously seen this beetle and would like to know if it is native or not. It is about 3/4" long. I am in zone 3, in northern Minnesota, and in a mixed forest of pine, spruce, birch, ash and poplar with limited oak and maple and some tamarack. Thanks for any help you can offer.
I think it's a male White-spotted Sawyer beetle
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/fidls/ws_sawyer/ws_sawyer.htm
That would certainly fit with the hosts available. Our trees have been in drought condition this spring and didn't do particularly well in that regard all last year, either, so I'm watching for the bad guys to move in on them. These sound like a somewhat lesser evil than some that are getting close to Minnesota from other areas.
Thanks, claypa! Have you had any personal experience with these beetles in your area?
No, but I used to see all kinds of beetles and their larvae at a buddy's saw mill in New England. Sometimes you could actually hear them eating.
You might get advice (and sympathy) in the Trees and Shrubs forum, or there might be old threads you could search too.
This message was edited Jun 4, 2007 2:58 PM
