Hylotrupes is a monotypic genus of woodboring beetles in the family Cerambycidae, the longhorn beetles. The sole species, Hylotrupes bajulus, is known by several common names, including house longhorn beetle, old house borer,[1] and European house borer.[2] In South Africa it also is known as the Italian beetle because of infested packing cases that had come from Italy.[3]Hylotrupes is the only genus in the tribe Hylotrupini.
This species, originating in Europe, and having been spread in timber and wood products, now has a practically cosmopolitan distribution, including Southern Africa, Asia, the Americas, Australia, and much of Europe and the Mediterranean.[4][5]
Descriptionedit
Mounted specimen
Hylotrupes bajulus can reach a body length of about 8–20 mm (0.31–0.79 in), while mature larva can reach 30 mm (1.2 in).[4][5] These beetles are brown to black, appearing grey because of a fine grey furriness on most of the upper surface. On the pronotum two conspicuously hairless tubercles are characteristic of the species. On the elytra usually there are two whitish pubescent spots. Females do not have a real ovipositor, only a little more elongated telson. The species can be defined polymorphic, having an extreme variability, both in the dimensions and in the aspect. In small specimens the pubescent spots on the elytra disappear almost completely and the legs and antennae turn to a reddish color.
Biologyedit
Eating sounds of an old-house borer
Adults are most active in the summer (June–September).[4][5] Only the larvae feed on the wood, with a preference for dead wood of pines (Pinus), fir, spruce (Picea abies), Araucaria and Pseudotsuga species .[5][6] Ecologically it can be quite important as a scavenger of dead pine trees, pine fence posts, and similar objects, hastening their decay and collapse.[7] The life cycle from egg to beetle typically takes two to ten years,[4] depending on the type of wood, its age and quality, its moisture content, and also depending on environmental conditions such as temperature. Larvae usually pupate just beneath the wood surface and eclose in mid to late summer. Once the exoskeleton of the newly emerged adult beetle has hardened sufficiently the adults cut oval exit holes 6–10 mm (¼ to 3/8 in) in diameter, typically leaving coarse, powdery frass in the vicinity of the hole.[8]
Hylotrupes bajulus preferentially attacks freshly produced sapwood of softwood timber. Contrary to the name "old-house borer", the species is more often found in new houses; maybe because the beetles are attracted to the higher resin content of wood harvested more recently than 10 years earlier. If old wood is attacked, the damage is usually greater. As the nutrient content of wood decreases with age the larva has to consume larger amounts of wood.[9]
In Australia the infection of home construction is mainly caused by the use of wood already infected with the eggs or larvae of the beetles if the wood is not properly kiln-dried in production.[10][11]
Galleryedit
Larva
Larva exposed in infested wood
Adult. Side view
Front view
Referencesedit
^Hylotrupes bajulus. Pest Insects of our Cultural Heritage.
^European House Borer. Department of Agriculture and Food, Government of Western Australia.
^Smit, Bernard. "Insects in South Africa: How to control them". Oxford University Press 1964
^. Archived from the original on 2019-08-21. Retrieved 2019-08-21.
^Skaife, S.H. "African Insect Life" Longmans Green 1953
^The Old House Borer, Penn State Department of Entomology web site
^Körting, A. (1961). Zur Entwicklung und Schadtätigkeit des Hausbockkäfers (Hylotrupes bajulus L.) In: Dachstühlen verschiedenen Alters. Anzeiger für Schädlingskunde, 34(10), 150-153.
^Grimm, M. (2005). Incursion of Hylotrupes bajulus Linnaeus (European House Borer) into Western Australia. The International Research Group on Wood Protection. IRG/WP 05-10558.
^Grimm, M., et al. (2009). European House Borer Hylotrupes bajulus Linnaeus in Western Australia: the anatomy of an eradication program. The International Research Group on Wood Protection. IRG/WP 09-20403.
Data related to Old-house borer at Wikispecies
Media related to Hylotrupes bajulus at Wikimedia Commons
April 12, 2024
hylotrupes, monotypic, genus, woodboring, beetles, family, cerambycidae, longhorn, beetles, sole, species, bajulus, known, several, common, names, including, house, longhorn, beetle, house, borer, european, house, borer, south, africa, also, known, italian, be. Hylotrupes is a monotypic genus of woodboring beetles in the family Cerambycidae the longhorn beetles The sole species Hylotrupes bajulus is known by several common names including house longhorn beetle old house borer 1 and European house borer 2 In South Africa it also is known as the Italian beetle because of infested packing cases that had come from Italy 3 Hylotrupes is the only genus in the tribe Hylotrupini Hylotrupes bajulusMaleFemaleScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaClass InsectaOrder ColeopteraInfraorder CucujiformiaFamily CerambycidaeSubfamily CerambycinaeTribe HylotrupiniGenus HylotrupesAudinet Serville 1834Species H bajulusBinomial nameHylotrupes bajulus Linnaeus 1758 Contents 1 Distribution 2 Description 3 Biology 4 Gallery 5 ReferencesDistribution editThis species originating in Europe and having been spread in timber and wood products now has a practically cosmopolitan distribution including Southern Africa Asia the Americas Australia and much of Europe and the Mediterranean 4 5 Description edit nbsp Mounted specimenHylotrupes bajulus can reach a body length of about 8 20 mm 0 31 0 79 in while mature larva can reach 30 mm 1 2 in 4 5 These beetles are brown to black appearing grey because of a fine grey furriness on most of the upper surface On the pronotum two conspicuously hairless tubercles are characteristic of the species On the elytra usually there are two whitish pubescent spots Females do not have a real ovipositor only a little more elongated telson The species can be defined polymorphic having an extreme variability both in the dimensions and in the aspect In small specimens the pubescent spots on the elytra disappear almost completely and the legs and antennae turn to a reddish color Biology edit source source Eating sounds of an old house borerAdults are most active in the summer June September 4 5 Only the larvae feed on the wood with a preference for dead wood of pines Pinus fir spruce Picea abies Araucaria and Pseudotsuga species 5 6 Ecologically it can be quite important as a scavenger of dead pine trees pine fence posts and similar objects hastening their decay and collapse 7 The life cycle from egg to beetle typically takes two to ten years 4 depending on the type of wood its age and quality its moisture content and also depending on environmental conditions such as temperature Larvae usually pupate just beneath the wood surface and eclose in mid to late summer Once the exoskeleton of the newly emerged adult beetle has hardened sufficiently the adults cut oval exit holes 6 10 mm to 3 8 in in diameter typically leaving coarse powdery frass in the vicinity of the hole 8 Hylotrupes bajulus preferentially attacks freshly produced sapwood of softwood timber Contrary to the name old house borer the species is more often found in new houses maybe because the beetles are attracted to the higher resin content of wood harvested more recently than 10 years earlier If old wood is attacked the damage is usually greater As the nutrient content of wood decreases with age the larva has to consume larger amounts of wood 9 In Australia the infection of home construction is mainly caused by the use of wood already infected with the eggs or larvae of the beetles if the wood is not properly kiln dried in production 10 11 Gallery edit nbsp Larva nbsp Larva exposed in infested wood nbsp Adult Side view nbsp Front viewReferences edit Hylotrupes bajulus Pest Insects of our Cultural Heritage European House Borer Department of Agriculture and Food Government of Western Australia Smit Bernard Insects in South Africa How to control them Oxford University Press 1964 a b c d Bugguide a b c d Cerambyx Agriculture Victoria Archived from the original on 2019 08 21 Retrieved 2019 08 21 Skaife S H African Insect Life Longmans Green 1953 The Old House Borer Penn State Department of Entomology web site Korting A 1961 Zur Entwicklung und Schadtatigkeit des Hausbockkafers Hylotrupes bajulus L In Dachstuhlen verschiedenen Alters Anzeiger fur Schadlingskunde 34 10 150 153 Grimm M 2005 Incursion of Hylotrupes bajulus Linnaeus European House Borer into Western Australia The International Research Group on Wood Protection IRG WP 05 10558 Grimm M et al 2009 European House Borer Hylotrupes bajulus Linnaeus in Western Australia the anatomy of an eradication program The International Research Group on Wood Protection IRG WP 09 20403 nbsp Data related to Old house borer at Wikispecies nbsp Media related to Hylotrupes bajulus at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hylotrupes amp oldid 1215148350, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
