Desmocerus palliatus

Desmocerus palliatus, the elderberry borer, is a species of Cerambycidae that occurs in Eastern North America.

Desmocerus palliatus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Family:	Cerambycidae
Genus:	Desmocerus
Species:	D. palliatus
Binomial name
Desmocerus palliatus Forster (1771)
Synonyms
Calopus blandus Fabricius, 1775 Cerambyx palliatus Forster, 1771 Desmocerus cyaneus (Fabricius) Audinet-Serville, 1834 Desmocerus elongatus Bland, 1862 Stenocorus cyaneus Fabricius, 1775

Description

The adult is 17 to 26 mm, mostly a shimmering dark blue, and the bases of the elytra are yellow to yellow-red. It is likely a mimic of beetles in the family Lycidae, as is the moth Lycomorpha pholus found in the same area.

Range and habitat

It ranges from Oklahoma, central North America, to parts of the southern Appalachian Mountains. They tend to be more abundant in the northern part of its range. They can be seen in swampy areas and near streams that support their host plant.

• 
  Live specimen of elderberry borer
• 
  mating pair

Life cycle

Eggs are laid near stems or at the base of the plant, the larvae then burrow their way into the stems and eat tunnels into the roots of the living plant. They can be seen between April and August.

Adult food

• Pollen

Sambucus

Larval food

Sambucus

External links

• "Species Desmocerus palliatus - Elderberry Borer - BugGuide.Net". Retrieved 2008-12-25.