Species Agrilus prionurus - Soapberry Borer

Saw-tailed Soapberry Borer, Olive Soapberry Borer

Agrilus prionurus Chevrolat 1838

11-12 mm (BG data)

markings distinctive; shiny black, with 4 small white spots on elytra

native to Mexico, more recently reported from TX (Dallas-Larado-Houston) - Map (Billings & Pase, 2008)(1)(2)

late May until early August (Billings & Pase, 2009)

hosts: Western Soapberry (Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii, Sapindaceae) (3)(1), and fringetree (Chionanthus, Oleaceae) (4)

Some 75 Agrilus prionurus adults were collected from [caged infested soapberry log sections] during the period from late May until early August, all from trees cut in Fort Bend and Brazos counties. (Billings & Pase, 2009)

Infested trees observed in Travis and McLennan counties as early as 1998. (Billings and Pase, 2009)

In the spring of 2009, Texas Forest Service, and several other state agencies, widely distributed a questionnaire asking for evidence of Agrilus prionurus, the evidence included asking survey respondents to provide "[p]hotos of both the foliage of the infested trees and damage observed ... to confirm the host tree and causal agent." "As a result of responses to this survey, 15 new counties were added to the distribution map in Texas." (Billings and Pase, 2009) However, at least three other spp. of Agrilus in Texas are known to host on soapberry, so evedence of Agrilus prionurus based solely on host damage is somewhat questionable.

Also, it's possible that Agrilus prionurus is actually native to Texas (E. G. Riley, pers. comm. to MAQ)

Billings R.F., Pase H.A. (2009) Soapberry borer infestations found in 33 counties in Texas. (Full text)

Godman, Frederick Du Cane (1882-1897) Biologia Centrali-Americana: Insecta. Coleoptera v.3:pt.1 Pg. 115

Wellso, S.G. and J.A. Jackman. (2006). A new species of Anthaxia (Haplanthaxia) Reitter (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) and new North American buprestid distributional and host records. The Pan-Pacific Entomologist 82(2): 262-268. (3)

Texas Entomology - Quinn, 2019

Pest alert - Billings & Pase, 2008