Subject: black with yellow stripes
Location: Missouri-USA
March 24, 2013 5:37 am
Yes we live in Missouri and in the last few weeks we have had this flying black and yellow striped bug in our house and there are several of them, what are they and how do i get rid of them, I’m not even sure how they are getting in the house. its cold and snowing out and they are still here. Please help
Signature: Kevin Kearns
Hi Kevin,
The best way to get rid of these Hickory Borers or Locust Borers is to stop bringing them into the house in the first place. Both species are closely related and they have larvae that bore in wood. We suspect you brought in some firewood, possibly hickory, pecan or black locust, and rather than burning it immediately, you left it where you keep the indoor wood supply. The heat of the home triggered an early emergence of the adult beetles. They will not reinfest the wood in your home or furniture as they are only interested in laying eggs in living or recently dead trees as a food source for the larvae. The two species are very difficult to tell apart, but Hickory Borers, Megacyllene caryae, are active as adults in the spring, and Locust Borers, Megacyllene robiniae, are active as adults in the autumn when they are often found feeding on the pollen of goldenrod.