Stem borer (Coleoptera: Mordellidae) in Smilax

Record Details

Record no.:	0509, 0658
Feeding guild:	Stem borer
Taxonomy:	Coleoptera: Mordellidae
Stages observed:	trace, larva, adult
Distribution observed:	IA
Hosts in Smilax:	S. ecirrhata (upright carrion flower); undetermined S. sp., long herbaceous vine, apparently either S. illinoensis (Illinois carrion flower) or S. lasioneura (Blue Ridge carrion flower)

I located larvae overwintering in their frass-filled tunnels in herbaceous Smilax stems in January 2022 and February 2024, and reared an adult from S. ecirrhata in 2024. There were two whitish larvae in the same stem in the 2024 example. The adult was reddish overall.

Featured Images

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Image #: 509-01 Tunneled stem in winter with accumulated frass.

Image #: 509-02 Larva in stem. (Photo date: Jsnuary 9, 2022)

Image #: 509-03 Larva in stem. (Photo date: February 13, 2024)

Image #: 509-05 Views of urogomphi of the 2022 and 2024 larvae.

Image #: 509-06 Views of the head of the 2022 larva.

Image #: 509-07 Reared adult. (Photo date: April ~9, 2024)

Image #: 509-10 Reared adult. (Photo date: April ~9, 2024)

Page created: March 19, 2026. Last update: none