A black beetle in a tree trunk can be harmless or worrisome. Read here which beetles colonize a tree trunk with information about their pest status. There is only one effective countermeasure in Germany against mass infestation of tree trunks by black beetles.
What to do about black beetles in the tree trunk?
You can get rid of mass occurrences of black beetles in the tree trunk by cutting down thetreeIn Germany these are mostly the dreadedbark beetles, occasionallylonghorn beetlesIsolated shiny metallic, black beetles in the tree trunk areprotected ones Jewel beetles that do not harm a tree.
Which black beetle lives in the tree trunk?
The most common black beetle in the tree trunk is thebark beetle. Furthermore, blacklonghorned beetlesandbeetles inhabit a tree. You can distinguish the beetles by these characteristics:
- Bark beetles: black-brown elytra, 1 mm to 8 mm in size.
- Longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae): shiny metallic black, distinctively long antennae, slim, elongated body; Introduced Asian longhorned beetle with 10 light spots on each elytra.
- Pride beetles (Buprestidae): in Germany mainly black pine jewel beetles (Melanophila acuminata), 8 mm to 11 m, abdomen tapering to a point.
Are black beetles in tree trunks harmful?
Blackbark beetlesare themost dangerous pests for Germany's forests. The adult beetles and their larvae destroy trees at record speed. In order to reproduce and feed, bark beetles eat their way through a tree trunk, which has nothing to oppose the eating machines.
Among the black longhorned beetles, the Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) and spruce longhorned beetle (Tetropium castaneum) are feared as wood pests because the larvae feed criss-cross through the tree trunk, destroying the vital cambium, so that the tree dies. Jewel beetlesare on theRed List of endangered species in Germany.
How do you get rid of black beetles in tree trunks?
You can get rid of black beetles in the tree trunk by cutting down thetree if it is infested with bark beetles or Asian longhorn beetles. An effective insecticide against the pests has yet to be invented.
Do not dispose of a beetle-infested tree trunk in the compost. Bark beetles can overwinter in the garden as larvae and imago. Small amounts of wood often fit into the organic waste bin. You can transport a large tree trunk to the regional composting plant with a trailer or you can order a green waste container.
Tip
Holes in tree trunks have many causes
If a black beetle runs across the tree, you haven't necessarily caught the perpetrator of tree trunk holes in the act. A prime example is the black-brown dung beetle (Anoplotrupes stercorosus), which takes care of waste in the forest. Numerous protected beneficial insects leave holes in the tree. These include hymenoptera such as carpenter bees (Xylocopa), giant wood parasitic wasps (Urocerus gigas) and horned mason bees (Osmia cornuta) as well as small vertebrates such as bats or dormouse.
