January, 2019

Bumelia Borer

So many insects are tiny and cryptic that finding a spectacular example such as the bumelia borer (Plinthocoelium suaveolens) can be a bit startling. This longhorn beetle is often about 1.5 inches long, with even longer antennae (that's where the "longhorn" name comes from). The metallic body color can be green or bluish, sometimes with reddish highlights, but it always contrasts with the red and black legs.

The larvae, known as round-headed borers, feed on the wood, drilling through trunks and roots of several kinds of trees: tupelo, bumelia, and mulberry. Adults are usually seen in the spring as they feed on flower nectar or hang out near the larval host plants. For such large insects, these beetles fly well and are quick to zoom off if they feel threatened.