
Twig girdler (top) and twig pruner damage
Key Points
- The twig girdler is a native longhorned beetle that attacks hickory, honeylocust, persimmon, elm, oak, hackberry, poplar, dogwood, linden, and flowering fruits.
- Twig pruners are also native longhorned beetles. They attack oak, hickory, ash, maple, honeylocust, elm, linden, sweetgum, hackberry, and persimmon.
Twig Girdler
- The adult beetles are about 3⁄4 inch long, cylindrical, and gray with two dark bands across the wing covers. The antennae are longer than the body.
- The larvae are called roundheaded borers. They are 1 inch long and white with black heads.
- Female twig girdlers are attracted to individual shade trees.
- They lay eggs in 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 inch diameter twigs.
- They then chew (girdle) the twigs, which then drop to the ground (late summer-early fall).
- The larvae overwinter in the twigs on the ground and complete their development the following summer.
Management
- To monitor for this insect, look for accumulations of twigs under shade trees in August and September.
- The cut ends look as though they have been cut by a beaver.
- To control twig girdlers, rake up and destroy twigs in the fall, or the following season before the adults emerge beginning in August.
- There is no insecticidal control.
Twig Girdler Photos


Twig girdler larvawig girdler laying Twig girdler larva
eggs in twig

Twig girdler ends
Twig pruners
- Adult beeltes are 3⁄4 inch long, brown, slender, elongate, with 2 posterior spines on each wing cover and have antennae longer than the body.
- Mature larvae are 1 inch long and white with black heads.
- Female beetles lay eggs in twigs and branches from 1⁄4 to 2 inches in diameter.
- The larvae bore toward the trunk and girdle the twigs in late summer.
- The twigs then drop to the ground.
- The larvae complete their development, pupate and then overwinter in these twigs.
Management
- To monitor for this pest look under shade trees in August and September for accumulations of twigs and small branches that have a concave cut end.
- Cut the twigs lengthwise to check for mature larvae.
- Rake up and destroy these twigs in the fall or winter before adults emerge the following spring.
Twig pruner photos


Twig pruner adult Twig pruner damage