
Community identification
Two-lined Chestnut Borer
Agrilus bilineatus
- Order & Family
- Coleoptera, Buprestidae
- Size
- 6 to 12 mm in length
Natural Habitat
Found in deciduous forests, specifically on or near oak and chestnut trees
Diet & Feeding
Larvae feed on the inner bark (cambium and phloem) of oak and chestnut trees; adults feed on foliage
Behavior Patterns
Adults are active from May to August and lay eggs in bark crevices; larvae create winding galleries that can girdle and kill stressed trees
Risks & Benefits
Significant forest pest that can cause widespread mortality in stressed oak trees; no direct health risk to humans or pets