Poplar-and-Willow Borer
Cryptorhynchus lapathi
This record describes Cryptorhynchus lapathi (species). Recorded family: Curculionidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Curculionoidea
- Family
- Curculionidae (Snout and Bark Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Cryptorhynchinae
- Tribe
- Cryptorhynchini
- Genus
- Cryptorhynchus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Holarctic; in NA, northern transcontinental (south to NC-IL-SD-UT-OR); it is not clear if the species was introduced into NA from Europe or is a native Holarctic
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Adults and larvae on of willow, poplar, alder and birch (Salicaceae, Betulaceae); larvae mine young stems
Life History
Adults appear in late Jul‒Aug, feeding on the inner bark of young shoots. Eggs are laid singly or in groups of 2-4 in slits cut in the corky bark often in scar tissue. Young larvae feed in the cambial layer and outer layer of sapwood tunneling in all directions and pushing our their borings in small holes. When ready to pupate, the larvae bore upward and inward, constructing cells in the stem's center. One generation per year, overwinter as larvae
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Cryptorhynchus lapathi (Linnaeus 1758)
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Cryptorhynchus lapathi. 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 Poplar-and-Willow Borer (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Mike Quinn , v belov , onegunah , Marci Hess
Frequently Asked Questions About Poplar-and-Willow Borer
How big is Poplar-and-Willow Borer?
5.6–8.3 mm
Where is Poplar-and-Willow Borer found?
Range: Holarctic; in NA, northern transcontinental (south to NC-IL-SD-UT-OR); it is not clear if the species was introduced into NA from Europe or is a native Holarctic
What does Poplar-and-Willow Borer eat?
The diet of the Poplar-and-Willow Borer includes Adults and larvae on of willow, poplar, alder and birch (Salicaceae, Betulaceae); larvae mine young stems.
What is the life cycle of a Poplar-and-Willow Borer?
Adults appear in late Jul‒Aug, feeding on the inner bark of young shoots. Eggs are laid singly or in groups of 2-4 in slits cut in the corky bark often in scar tissue. Young larvae feed in the cambial layer and outer layer of sapwood tunneling in all directions and pushing our their borings in small holes. When ready to pupate, the larvae bore upward and inward, constructing cells in the stem's center. One generation per year, overwinter as larvae