Camphor Shoot Borer
Cnestus mutilatus
This record describes Cnestus mutilatus (species). Recorded family: Curculionidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Earliest record in our area: MS 1999 Recorded boring into and damaging plastic fuel reservoirs (Carlton & Bayless 2011) Riding lawn mower gasoline tank damaged by camphor shoot borer.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Curculionoidea
- Family
- Curculionidae (Snout and Bark Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Scolytinae
- Tribe
- Xyleborini
- Genus
- Cnestus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
adventive in se. US (e.TX-FL-NC-AR) - Map https://www.bugguide.net/node/view/912764; native to, and widespread in Asia; will likely spread over much of e. US (Schiefer & Bright 2004)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: polyphagous on hardwoods ; sweetgum ( Liquidamber styraciflua ) is significantly more susceptible to attacks than Carya, Acer , or Liriodendron (Stone et al. 2007)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Cnestus mutilatus (Blandford 1894)
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Cnestus mutilatus. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Coleoptera is the largest order of insects with over 400,000 described species, representing ~25% of all known animal species and ~40% of all insects. In the U.S. alone, nearly 30,000 beetle species have been identified.
Ecological role of the group
Beetles are prominent decomposers, especially in forests, breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients. As predators, they reduce populations of pest insects. Many species are also important pollinators of flowering plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Beetles have major economic significance: leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) and weevils (Curculionoidea) are among the most destructive agricultural pests globally, costing billions annually, while predatory species like ladybugs provide natural pest control.
Recorded sources for this group: Britannica, Smithsonian, NCSU Entomology. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Camphor Shoot Borer (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Joshua P. Basham; Additional contributions by Michael Merchant , Mike Quinn , Matt Bertone , v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Camphor Shoot Borer
What is Camphor Shoot Borer?
Camphor Shoot Borer (Cnestus mutilatus) is a species in the family Curculionidae, within the order Coleoptera.
How big is Camphor Shoot Borer?
2.6-3.9 mm
Where is Camphor Shoot Borer found?
Range: adventive in se. US (e.TX-FL-NC-AR) - Map https://www.bugguide.net/node/view/912764; native to, and widespread in Asia; will likely spread over much of e. US (Schiefer & Bright 2004)
What does Camphor Shoot Borer eat?
The diet of the Camphor Shoot Borer includes polyphagous on hardwoods ; sweetgum ( Liquidamber styraciflua ) is significantly more susceptible to attacks than Carya, Acer , or Liriodendron (Stone et al. 2007).