Got Nature? Blog

Glycobius speciosus, sugar maple borer, photo by Steven Katovich, USDA Forest Service.

​Some of the most diverse taxa on the planet are rarely seen yet play critical roles within our environment. The insects found in the Order Coleoptera (beetles) are represented by over 500,000 species. Collectively, these insects provide a wide range of ecosystem services. They are important pollinators and predators on other insects, and they play essential roles in nutrient cycling. While most species are beneficial or vital for ecosystem functions, there are a few species that are considered pests.

Dr. Jeff Holland and research team studying sugar maple borer in the woods.

The Sugar Maple Borer is a native species found throughout the eastern United States. The larval stage of the beetle specializes in feeding on sugar maple trees, particularly stressed or injured trees. In this podcast, our host, Rod Williams, will be interviewing Dr. Jeff Holland about the unique distribution of this wood-boring beetle, how to survey for this species on your property and the impacts to sugar maple trees throughout the eastern deciduous forests.

To find out more information about sugar maple borers, visit:
Holland Website
Bug Guide Identification

Resources
The Education Store (Search entomology or forest)
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Jeff Holland, Associate Professor of Spatial Ecology and Biodiversity
Department of Entomology, Purdue University

Rod Williams, Associate Professor of Wildlife Science
Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University