Dicerca tenebrica
| Dicerca tenebrica | |
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| Species: | D. tenebrica
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| Binomial name | |
| Dicerca tenebrica (Kirby, 1837)
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Dicerca tenebrica (commonly known as flatheaded wood borer)[1] is a brassy to black coloured[2] beetle from Chrysochroinae subfamily which can be found in Canada and both Southern[3] and Northeastern United States.[4]
Description
D. tenebrica have a flat head (hence the name), while its vertex is slightly impressed from the middle. Both disk and vertex are coarsed and punctated. Its prothorax have lateral margins which are parallel at base and expanded closer to the middle. The lateral margins which are closer to elytron are subparallel and are wide farther from the middle.[4]
Females of the D. tenebrica are different from the rest of the genus due to reduced middle tooth or it complete absence off. Males are 15–21.5 millimetres (0.59–0.85 in) long and are 4.8–7.2 millimetres (0.19–0.28 in) wide while females' length can range from 14.5–26 millimetres (0.57–1.02 in) with width being from 4.5–9.0 millimetres (0.18–0.35 in).[4]
Ecology
The species flies from March to November during which months it feeds on poplar species[4] (especially Populus balsamifera. In Alberta, it is known for feeding on Pinus contorta, aspens, jack pines, and white spruces[5] in which they also lay their eggs.[2]
References
- ^ John D. Stein, Patrick Charles Kennedy (1972). Key to shelterbelt insects in the Northern Great Plains. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. p. 149.
- ^ a b Arthur V. Evans, James N. Hogue (2006). Field Guide to Beetles of California. University of California Press/Regents of the University of California. p. 129. ISBN 978-0-520-24655-3.
- ^ Nelson, G.H., G.C. Walters, Jr., R.D. Haines & C.L. Bellamy. 2008. A catalog and bibliography of the Buprestoidea of America north of Mexico. The Coleopterists Society
- ^ a b c d G. H. Nelson (1975). "A revision of the genus Dicerca in North America (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)" (PDF). Ent. Arb. Mus. Kansas City: 126–129.
- ^ "Dicerca tenebrica (Kirby)". University of Alberta. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
External links
Further reading
- Solomon, J.D. 1995. Guide to insect borers in North American broadleaf trees and shrubs. USDA Forest Service Agriculture Handbook AH-706. 735 pp.