Monochamus

Monochamus
Monochamus galloprovincialis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Cerambycidae
Subfamily: Lamiinae
Tribe: Lamiini
Genus: Monochamus
Megerle in Dejean, 1821
Species

Numerous, see text

Monochamus is a genus of longhorn beetles found throughout the world. They are commonly known as sawyer beetles or sawyers, as their larvae bore into dead or dying trees, especially conifers[1] such as pines. They are the type genus of the Monochamini, a tribe in the huge long-horned beetle subfamily Lamiinae, but typically included in the Lamiini today.

If sawyer beetles infect freshly cut pine logs, they can cause a 30–40% loss in value due to the tunnels their larvae bore. It's important to process logs within a few weeks of cutting or store them in water to minimize damage.[2] Some species are known to transport phoretic Bursaphelenchus nematodes, including B. xylophilus which causes pine wilt disease.[3]

Selected species

Notable sawyer (M. notatus)
Spotted pine sawyer (M. mutator)

Listed alphabetically.[4]

Gallery

Three pictures of two separate sawyers found in a planting of Scots pines in Kansas.

References

  1. The Free Dictionary (TFD) (2008): Genus Monochamus. Retrieved 2009-MAR-23.
  2. Douglas Allen,”Sawyer Beetles”, New York Forest Owner, May 1994
  3. Kansas State University Extension Horticulture (KSU-EH) (2005): Pine Wilt. Version of 2005-FEB-28. Retrieved 2009-MAR-23.
  4. Monochamus, funet.fi
  5. John Acorn and Ian Sheldon. Bugs of Ontario. Edmonton, AB:Lone Pine Publ., 2003.
  6. Spruce Sawyer, Insects of Alberta

External links