Citrus long-horned beetle, a part of the long-horned beetle (Cerambycidae) family, is indigenous to different parts of Korea, Japan, and China. The beetle has also reached parts of America and the United Kingdom as an invasive species. It mostly infests in citrus trees, resulting in its name.
Size: 21 – 37 mm (1 – 1.5 inches)
Color: It has shiny black elytra covered with about twelve black round spots. Each of the eleven segments has markings of light blue or white bands at the base.
Other Characteristic Features: They have a large, stout appearance with sexual dimorphism visible in their physical features. In the males, the abdominal tip is not visible since it remains entirely covered by the elytra. In contrast, in females, it is partially seen.
The antennae of the male citrus long-horned beetle species are double their body’s length. In females, it is just a little longer in comparison to their bodies.
The larva is 5mm (0.22 inches) long when it just hatches, eventually growing up to 52 mm (2 inches). It has a creamy-white body with yellowish patterns on its prothorax, alongcol3 a dark head. As the larva hatches from the eggs, it forms a tunnel by chewing into the tree, which eventually becomes a pupation site.
The pupa is 27 – 38 mm (1 – 1.5 inches), and the elytra cover their membranous hind wings. The pupal stage goes for 4 – 6 weeks, and one could mostly spot the pupae beneath the bark.
They are initially creamy, later turning yellowish-brown just before hatching. Having a length and width of 5 mm (0.22 inches) and 1.7 mm (0.07 inches), they are elongated with a smooth surface tapering towards both ends.
| Other Names | Citrus-root cerambycid, Rough-shouldered long-horned beetle |
| Adult Lifespan | 3 – 4 weeks |
| Duration of Larval Stage | 1- 2 years (can be a little longer in the United Kingdom and go up to 3 years because of the pleasant climatic conditions) |
| Distribution | Native: Korea, Japan, China Invasive: Different parts of North America, and also the United Kingdom |
| Habitat | Urban landscape, forests, orchards, as well as wildlife and endangered salmon habitat, mostly in the leaves, trunks, roots, and twigs of their host plants |
| Common Predators | Known to have no natural enemies |
| Seasons active from | May – July |
| Host Plants | Apple, hibiscus, Australian pine, willow, sycamore, pigeon pea, mulberry, litchi, oak, Japanese red cedar, Chinaberry, ficus, pecan |
| Diet of larvae and adults | Larvae: Inner barks of host plants Adults: Leaves and barks of host trees |
As the larva feeds on the trunk and roots, it weakens the tree making them more susceptible to disease. The damage caused by the citrus long-horned adult beetles is much more than the larvae since they directly attack the foliage and even the young barks.
Image Source: forestresearch.gov.uk, images.candideapp.com, bugwoodcloud.org, mpi.govt.nz, gozo.news
Citrus long-horned beetle, a part of the long-horned beetle (Cerambycidae) family, is indigenous to different parts of Korea, Japan, and China. The beetle has also reached parts of America and the United Kingdom as an invasive species. It mostly infests in citrus trees, resulting in its name.
Size: 21 – 37 mm (1 – 1.5 inches)
Color: It has shiny black elytra covered with about twelve black round spots. Each of the eleven segments has markings of light blue or white bands at the base.
Other Characteristic Features: They have a large, stout appearance with sexual dimorphism visible in their physical features. In the males, the abdominal tip is not visible since it remains entirely covered by the elytra. In contrast, in females, it is partially seen.
The antennae of the male citrus long-horned beetle species are double their body’s length. In females, it is just a little longer in comparison to their bodies.
The larva is 5mm (0.22 inches) long when it just hatches, eventually growing up to 52 mm (2 inches). It has a creamy-white body with yellowish patterns on its prothorax, alongcol3 a dark head. As the larva hatches from the eggs, it forms a tunnel by chewing into the tree, which eventually becomes a pupation site.
The pupa is 27 – 38 mm (1 – 1.5 inches), and the elytra cover their membranous hind wings. The pupal stage goes for 4 – 6 weeks, and one could mostly spot the pupae beneath the bark.
They are initially creamy, later turning yellowish-brown just before hatching. Having a length and width of 5 mm (0.22 inches) and 1.7 mm (0.07 inches), they are elongated with a smooth surface tapering towards both ends.
| Other Names | Citrus-root cerambycid, Rough-shouldered long-horned beetle |
| Adult Lifespan | 3 – 4 weeks |
| Duration of Larval Stage | 1- 2 years (can be a little longer in the United Kingdom and go up to 3 years because of the pleasant climatic conditions) |
| Distribution | Native: Korea, Japan, China Invasive: Different parts of North America, and also the United Kingdom |
| Habitat | Urban landscape, forests, orchards, as well as wildlife and endangered salmon habitat, mostly in the leaves, trunks, roots, and twigs of their host plants |
| Common Predators | Known to have no natural enemies |
| Seasons active from | May – July |
| Host Plants | Apple, hibiscus, Australian pine, willow, sycamore, pigeon pea, mulberry, litchi, oak, Japanese red cedar, Chinaberry, ficus, pecan |
| Diet of larvae and adults | Larvae: Inner barks of host plants Adults: Leaves and barks of host trees |
As the larva feeds on the trunk and roots, it weakens the tree making them more susceptible to disease. The damage caused by the citrus long-horned adult beetles is much more than the larvae since they directly attack the foliage and even the young barks.
Image Source: forestresearch.gov.uk, images.candideapp.com, bugwoodcloud.org, mpi.govt.nz, gozo.news
