Spined oak borer, Elaphidion mucronatum (Say 1823) and Pteromalid parasitoid.

The spined oak borer is a longhorned beetle native to the eastern parts of the United States, including Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Horismenus is an Eulophid parasitoid wasp found along with spined oak borer. The relationship between the spined oak borer and Horismenus, represents a classic example of biological control in nature, where one species helps regulate the population of another.
Published on
Authors
Suranga Basnagala
Kayla Perry

The Unusual Oak Felt Scale

My friend Ron Rothhaas (Arbor Doctor, LLC, Cincinnati, OH) texted a series of images last week showing a pin oak (Quercus palustris) festooned with small, white structures superficially resembling insect cocoons. However, a closer look revealed the structures to be “ovisacs” of the Oak Felt Scale (OFS), Acanthococcus quercus (formerly Eriococcus quercus), family Eriococcidae.
Published on
Authors
Joe Boggs