Species Chalcophora virginiensis - Sculptured Pine Borer

Large Flat-headed Pine Heartwood Borer, Larger Flat-headed Pine Borer, Virginia Pine Borer, Western Pine Borer

Author of species: (Drury), 1770(1)

23-30 mm (adult), larvae to 50 mm

Large, black, shining, slightly bronzy. Much larger and more black than C. liberta or C. georiana. Apparently one of the more common and frequently noticed members of the genus.

Larvae are large, creamy white, with an enlarged thoracic segment two that almost covers the head. This plate is marked with a "Y".

Widespread in eastern North America.

Canada: ON; USA: AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NH, OH, OK, PA, SC, TX, VA, WI, WV; also recorded from Mexico and Central America(1)

In or near pine forests.

February-July, October-November (North Carolina).

Adults likely feed on pine foliage.

Larvae: Pinus echinata, P. palustris, P. rigida, P. strobus, P. taeda, P. virginiana, Taxodium distichum(1)

Adults reported to fly with a noisy buzz during the day. Female lays eggs on scars in bark of living pines. Also sometimes feeds on downed logs. Larvae feed under bark over several years before maturing, may reduce much of tree to sawdust. Life cycle is two or more years. Perhaps adults overwinter, at least in the south, given the two flight periods noted in North Carolina, or perhaps there are two emergence periods?

A very large buprestid, apparently about frequently in the open where humans may encounter it.

Type locality: VA(1)

Other Chalcophora

Dillon, p. 342, plate XXXIV (2)

Brimley, p. 170 (3)

Arnett et al., p. 193, fig. 468a (4)

White, p. 167, fig. 66 (5)

Milne, p. 563, fig. 179, describes C. virginiensis. (6)

Beal, p. 122, plate 1 (7)

Baker, p. 167, fig. 50 (8)

Drees, p. 103, fig. 148 (9)

Clemson Univ.

Florida Chalcophora

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