Description

Adult

Wingspan of 33-48 mm. Forewings with transparent scales and brown veins. Body black and yellow. Abdomen striped with yellow bands. Tegulae and head also yellow.

Larvae

Final instars reach 30-40 mm in length. Body is creamy white with a red-brown head and a yellowish prothoracic plate.

Eggs

Laid near the base of the trunk of the host plant.

Distribution

Europe, Asia and North America

Economic Host(s)

Poplar tree species.

Symptoms/Signs

Larvae bore into the cambial layers and outer wood of the lower parts of the trunk, producing extensive galleries. Sawdust and frass may be visible near the entrance holes and pupal cases are often left at exit holes. Woodpeckers further damage trees by digging for the larvae.

Generations:

1