This excavation usually damages several layers of annual growth 
of the wood, causing a large black defect and the formation of 
scars on the outer surface of the bark. The presence of this defect 
results in considerable degrade of the lumber. The related species, 
E.. antomerius (Drury), breeds under the bark at the bases of dead 
trees and on the stumps of oaks and chestnut in southern Canada 
and throughout eastern United States. 
The genus Goes LeC. contains a few species which attack living 
hardwoods. Large tunnels constructed in the heartwood result in 
defects in lumber cut from infested wood. Eggs are deposited 
singly in oval pits chewed through the bark. Tunnels in the wood 
are excavated inward and upward and are kept open. Fibrous 
frass is expelled through openings maintained at the egg scar. 
Life cycles vary from 2 to 5 years, depending on species. 
Goes tigrinus (DeG.), the white oak borer, the largest species 
in the genus, occurs throughout eastern United States. White 
oak is its preferred host throughout most of its range, but vari- 
ous other oaks, and hickory and walnut are attacked occasionally. 
In Mississippi, overcup oak is heavily infested. The adult is 
large, robust, dark brown, and from 25 to 30 mm. long. It is 
irregularly covered with a dense coat of white fine hair, giving it 
a white and brown mottled appearance (fig. 57). The basal part 
of the elytra is roughened with small, black, elevated points; and 
there is a strong spine on each side of the thorax. Full-grown 
larvae are up to 37 mm. long. 
Adults emerge in May and June and feed for a week or two 
on the bark of tender twigs and leaves of oaks. Eggs are depos- 
ited in the trunks of young trees, usually from 1 to 12 inches in 
diameter, or in the branches of larger trees. The young larvae 
bore directly into the sapwood. Then they tunnel upward and 
penetrate deep into the heartwood, excavating tunnels up to one 
inch in diameter and to 10 inches in length. Each borer bores two 
Soap eNs 
pane cas < > a 
4 a> = 
r 
mR 
e! 
/ | F-519921 
, FIGURE 57.—Adults of Goes tig- 
lee re \ 3 rinus, the white oak borer. 
182 
