| Timberman beetle | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Polyphaga |
| Infraorder: | Cucujiformia |
| Family: | Cerambycidae |
| Genus: | Acanthocinus |
| Species: | A. aedilis |
| Binomial name | |
| Acanthocinus aedilis | |
| Synonyms | |
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The timberman beetle (Acanthocinus aedilis) is a species of woodboring beetle belonging to the longhorn beetle family. [1]
It is found in woodlands, with a large distribution through Europe, Russia and Central Asia. It is also known as the Siberian Timberman due to its range extending northwards in to Siberia. [2] In Finnish this species is known as Sarvijaakko, in Dutch as Timmerboktor and in Swedish as Större Timmerman. [3] Despite a few sources suggesting reports in Central America, no confirmed reports were available at time of editing (May, 2020). The species is also not listed as invasive in North America. [4]
The body length ranges from 12-20mm, with antennae up for 3 times the body length in males, or 1.5 times the body length in females. [2] Their lifespan is up to 3 years which includes the 1–2 years spent in the larval stage. [5]
This species is capable of surviving freezing temperatures below -37 °C in both the adult and larval stages. [6] The adults are active from March to June, during which they are diurnal. [2] The adults overwinter in pupal chambers in leaf litter or under the bark. [7]
In Continental Europe, this species has become a serious pest of commercially-grown timber as the larvae feed under the bark, weakening the trees. [2] Through infesting weakened trees, excavating galleries under the bark, the trees then die. [7] Their development within wood debris in natural forests is beneficial for nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems, but can also facilitate the transfer of pathogenic fungi within woodlands. [8] Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway Spruce (Picea abies) are key food sources for this beetle species. [1]
A distribution map within the UK can be found courtesy of the National Biodiversity Network. [9] [10] The species is reported to be Nationally Scarce category B within Great Britain by the Wildlife Trust BCN in 2018.
