Banded Alder Borer or Black-and-white Cerambycid

Natural Habitat

Forests, woodlands, and urban areas with deciduous trees, especially where host trees like alder, maple, and willow are present. They are native to North America.

Diet & Feeding

Larvae feed on the wood of various deciduous trees, particularly alder, maple, willow, and poplar. Adult beetles may feed on sap or foliage but primarily focus on reproduction.

Behavior Patterns

Adults are active during the day, often found on trees, especially maple or willow. Females lay eggs in crevices of bark. Larvae bore into the wood, feeding on sapwood and heartwood for several years before pupating and emerging as adults. They can be destructive forest pests due to their larval feeding.

Risks & Benefits

Potential risks include significant damage to host trees, particularly in forests or plantations, due to the wood-boring activity of their larvae, which can weaken and even kill trees. They are considered forest pests. There are no direct benefits to humans, though they are part of the natural forest ecosystem.

Identified on: 8/8/2025