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Species Chalcophora virginiensis - Sculptured Pine Borer
Classification Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Coleoptera (Beetles)
Suborder Polyphaga (Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles)
Superfamily Buprestoidea (Metallic Wood Boring Beetles)
Family Buprestidae (Metallic Wood-boring Beetles)
Subfamily Chrysochroinae
Genus Chalcophora
Species virginiensis (Sculptured Pine Borer)
Other Common Names Large Flat-headed Pine Heartwood Borer, Larger Flat-headed Pine Borer, Virginia Pine Borer, Western Pine Borer
Explanation of Names Author of species: (Drury), 1770 (1)
Size 23-30 mm (adult), larvae to 50 mm
Identification 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".
Range 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)
Habitat In or near pine forests.
Season February-July, October-November (North Carolina).
Food Adults likely feed on pine foliage.
Larvae: Pinus echinata, P. palustris, P. rigida, P. strobus, P. taeda, P. virginiana, Taxodium distichum (1)
Life Cycle 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?
Remarks A very large buprestid, apparently about frequently in the open where humans may encounter it.
See Also Other Chalcophora
Print References Dillon, p. 342, plate XXXIV (2)
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)
Works Cited | 1. | Catalog and Bibliography of the Buprestoidea of America North of Mexico By Gayle H. Nelson, George C. Walters, Jr., R. Dennis Haines, Charles L. Bellamy. 2008. | |
| 4. | How to Know the Beetles By Ross H. Arnett, N. M. Downie, H. E. Jaques | |
| 7. | How to Know the Insects By Roger G. Bland, H.E. Jaques |  |
| 8. | Eastern Forest Insects By Whiteford L. Baker | |
| 9. | A Field Guide to Common Texas Insects By Bastiaan M. Drees, John A. Jackman |  |
Contributed by Cotinis on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm Additional contributions by Joshua P. BashamLast updated 18 October, 2009 - 12:42am |
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