About Asemum striatum (Linnaeus, 1758)
Asemum striatum, commonly called the black spruce borer, is a species of beetle in the subfamily Spondylidinae of the family Cerambycidae. This beetle occurs across most of Europe, the East Palearctic realm, the Near East, the Nearctic realm, and the Indomalayan realm. Adult black spruce borers reach lengths of 8–23 millimeters (0.31–0.91 inches). Adults can be found from May through August, and the species completes a full life cycle in two to three years. The head and pronotum of this species are usually black, while the elytra are black or brownish and marked with multiple longitudinal ridges – this feature gives the species its specific name striatum. Black spruce borers are polyphagous feeders on coniferous trees. They primarily feed on Pinus sylvestris, Pinus mugo, and Pinus nigra, but will also feed on Picea abies, and species in the Abies and Larix genera. Larvae of A. striatum develop under the bark of their host plants, before moving into dead branches and tree stumps to continue development later.
