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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Polyphaga » Series Cucujiformia » Longhorn and Leaf Beetles (Chrysomeloidea) » Longhorn Beetles (Cerambycidae) » Flat-faced Longhorn Beetles (Lamiinae) » Saperdini » Saperda » Poplar Borer (Saperda calcarata)

Species Saperda calcarata - Poplar Borer

Classification · Explanation of Names · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Life Cycle · Remarks · Works Cited

Cerambycidae: Saperda calcarata - Saperda calcarata

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Polyphaga

No Taxon (Series Cucujiformia)

Superfamily Chrysomeloidea (Longhorn and Leaf Beetles)

Family Cerambycidae (Longhorn Beetles)

Subfamily Lamiinae (Flat-faced Longhorn Beetles)

Tribe Saperdini

Genus Saperda

Species calcarata (Poplar Borer)

Explanation of Names

Saperda calcarata Say 1824

calcarata 'having a spur'

Size

18-33 mm(1)

Identification

Largest within the genus. Prominent spines at tips of elytra. Coloration variable, pastel hues.(1)

Range

much of NA

Habitat

Deciduous and mixed forests

Life Cycle

Larvae bore in trunk or large limbs of downed or weakened Populus spp. (especially cottonwood and aspen)(2)

Eggs are deposited in small slits cut into the bark in the middle third of the tree. Overwinter as larvae.(3)

Life cycle is 3 years(3)

Remarks

species of considerable economic importance; can seriously damage trunks and larger branches of poplars; by far the most destructive pest of poplars/cottonwoods in the west (Felt & Joutel 1904)

Pristaulacus rufitarsis is a wasp in the Evaniidae family that parasites this beetle.(3)

Works Cited

1.	Field Guide to Northeastern Longhorned Beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) Douglas Yanega. 1996. Illinois Natural History Survey.

2.	Illustrated Key to the Longhorned Woodboring Beetles of the Eastern United States Steven W. Lingafelter. 2008. Coleopterists Society.

3.	Eastern Forest Insects Whiteford L. Baker. 1972. U.S. Department of Agriculture · Forest Service.

Contributed by Cotinis on 12 April, 2005 - 6:23am
Additional contributions by Mike Quinn, v belov, Marci Hess
Last updated 5 September, 2023 - 9:34am

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