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Western Ash Borer (Neoclytus conjunctus) is a handsome black and yellow beetle with long back legs that look like they were borrowed from a grasshopper. It is a member of the Long-horned Beetle family and its larvae burrows into dead and nearly dead wood. It feeds on Western Ash and Oak, but most commonly on Vancouver Island it uses Arbutus (#30). It is often seen when arbutus firewood is being cut during the beetles flight season in late spring and early summer. In flight the black and yellow stripes mimic a wasp, which is a good strategy. Peering at it's face (third photo), one wonders why it would want to mimic a terrier.
There is a useful Oregon State University extension note by M. Bennet and D. Shaw on diseases and insects found on Arbutus that can be found here.
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AuthorsTwo biologists on a beautiful property armed with cameras, smart phones and a marginal knowledge of websites took up the challenge of documenting one species a day on that property. Join along! Posts and photographs by Leah Ramsay and David Fraser (unless otherwise stated); started January 1, 2014. Categories
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