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The twig girdler and twig pruner beetles are both found in the Cerambycidae family of longhorned beetles. Twig girdlers, also called Oncideres cingulata, are small beetles that are rarely longer than three-quarters of an inch while the twig pruners, also called Elaphidionoides villosus, are usually around one-half inch in length. The body of the twig girdler is elongated and somewhat plump with a basic coloring of brownish gray. Twig pruners have slender bodies that are elongated with a basic coloring of yellowish-gray. The wings of the twig pruner and twig girdler have bands of color either running the length or across the span of the wing. Both beetles have long antenna, almost as long as the bodies, but the twig pruner has a prickly type of hairs on the antenna as well. The presence of the twig pruner is first noticed in the early spring, but the twig girdler rarely shows up until early summer. Although it may be difficult to observe either of these insects it is not difficult to find traces of their busy lifestyle under or around any host tree.
In most cases the twig pruner makes its home in such trees as the pecan, walnut, oak, maple, hickory, chestnut and some fruit trees. The twig girdler makes its home in such trees as the elm, poplar, dogwood, and some fruit trees, but can also be found in pecan, walnut, hickory or oak trees. To look for the handy work of either of these insects you will have inspect the area around the trees given above or the tree itself. Trees that are providing a home for either the twig pruner beetle or twig girdler will have small bits of branches laying around the base or the branch tips will be hanging down almost ready to fall. This is because the females or larvae of both insects chew completely around the outside of small branches when preparing to deposit their eggs.
Adult twig girdler usually begins appearing around the middle of August, while twig pruner appears much earlier. The twig pruners have spent their winter as pupa within the larger part of a branch that has fallen from the tree. The twig girdler has also spent its winter within the confines of a fallen tree branch but as larva that will pupate during the following spring. Mating activities of the twig pruner and the twig girdler begins during the summer months. Shortly after mating the females of the twig girdler species begin cutting into twigs of their chosen host tree in preparation of depositing their eggs. They leave behind a clean-cut area on the outside of the twig cutting deep into the tiny branch at the center. The twig will die and eventually fall to the ground. The twig pruner females lay their eggs on the host tree, as well. When the eggs hatch the larva begin eating away at the wood from the inside out. This leaves a choppy appearing area in the bark of the twig. This twig will eventually die and fall from the tree starting the life cycle of the insect again.
In most areas both insects are considered pest since they leave behind trees which are damaged and unattractive. When the trees that are attacked are young they will many times not grow in the proper manner. Many will be improperly shaped or appear scraggly. In some cases when the infestation is serious the tree may even die. It is suggested that the best way to rid a tree of the twig pruner beetle or twig girdler beetle is to cut away any infected branches during the fall months. These branches and the twigs that have fallen beneath the tree should be burned.
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