Saperda perforata

Saperda perforata is a longhorn beetle species developing mainly in poplars (Populus nigra, P. alba, P. tremula) across much of Europe and Asia. It prefers dying, freshly dead, or heavily weakened trees but may occasionally infest living ones that are stressed by drought, damage, or other pests. Females lay eggs on trunks and thick branches. Larvae first tunnel beneath the bark, then into the sapwood, where pupation occurs. The life cycle takes one to two years. Adults emerge from late May to early August and are mostly active during dusk or night. High infestation levels can worsen tree vitality and reduce wood quality, especially in poplar plantations. The beetle is distributed widely across the European continent, including Central and Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and parts of Scandinavia.