Elderberry Borer Beetle - (Desmocerus palliatus)

The yellow and blue colors on the Elderberry Borer Beetle are striking and unusual, just like the fruit of their host plant.

Staff Writer (8/12/2015): The bright yellow and metallic blue colors on this species are uncommon among most beetles. The blue may range from dark navy to bright royal blue. Adults have antennae that are about as long as their body and so are part of the Longhorn Beetle family. They are often found on flowers and leaves of their host plant and namesake, elderberry plants. They are most likely to be seen during late spring and summer.

Elderberry Borer Beetles are native to eastern and central North America. Eggs are laid on elderberry bark, branches and leaves. Hatched larvae bore their way into the center of the stems to feed on the plant's juices. They leave behind frass (insect excrement) that resembles wood shavings. As they mature, the larvae continue to bore down to the roots of the plant where they will pupate. It takes approximately two years to develop into an adult.

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Details of the:
Elderberry Borer Beetle

Category: Beetle
Common name: Elderberry Borer Beetle
Scientific Name: Desmocerus palliatus
Other Names: Elder Borer Beetle

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Coleoptera

Family: Cerambycidae

Genus: Desmocerus

Species: palliatus

Size (Adult, Length): 18mm to 27mm (0.71in to 1.06in)

Identifying Colors: yellow, blue, black

Additional Descriptors: tri-colored, flying, antennae, metallic blue

North American Reach (Though Not Limited To*): Alabama; Arkansas; Connecticut; Delaware; Florida; Georgia; Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Kansas; Kentucky; Louisiana; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Michigan; Minnesota; Mississippi; Missouri; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New York; North Carolina; Ohio; Pennsylvania; Rhode Island; South Carolina; Tennessee; Vermont; Virginia; West Virginia; Wisconsin; New Brunswick; Newfoundland and Labrador; Nova Scotia; Ontario; Prince Edward Island; Quebec

* Keep in mind that an insect's reach is not limited by lines on a map and therefore may appear in areas/regions/states beyond those listed above.

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