Agrilus biguttatus
Oak splendour beetle
A metallic shiny green beetle, about 8.5-13.0 mm long. It attacks mostly older, languishing oaks in sunny and warmer locations. It is one of the major contributors responsible for oak death in Europe in the last decade. A. biguttatus lays eggs in groups into oak bark notches. Larvae bore into the bark where they excavate narrow galleries and pupate at their ends. The larva overwinters in the galleries and pupates in spring. It swarms towards the end of May and in June. Damage typically results in three dieback.
Galleries under the bark. Larvae bore into the bark where they excavate narrow galleries and pupate at their ends. Exit hole in D-shape.
Tree Species: Oak
Part of a plant- attacked: Tree trunk, Branch
Pest significance: Very harmful
Pest Category: Insects
Invasive Species: No
Present in EU: Yes
Pest group: Insect
Affected part of wood: Sapwood
Depth of damages: Bark, Under bark only, Up to 2 cm depth
The extent of damage: Whole trunk
Prevalence in Europe: Very common
Damaged products: Firewood, Fresh timber logs (water still in the sapwood), Furniture, Lumber, boards and prisms, Wooden house constructions
Roundwood size: Branches and twigs, Diameter from 10 up to 50 cm, Diameter up to 10 cm
Wood discoloration: Yes
Exit holes: D-shape
Pest subcategory: Bark and underbark insect, Wood-boring insect
Similar pests
Chrysobothris affinis
Chalcophora mariana
