The Yellow velvet beetle, also called golden flower longhorn beetle, is a tapered, small to
medium-sized, flower longhorn beetle. Common names used for this beetle include Yellow
velvet beetle, Golden flower longhorn beetle and Golden-haired flower longhorn. Adult beetles
have bullet-shaped bodies from 3/4 inch to 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 times the size of their body. The
Yellow Velvet Longhorn is an invasive species brought over from Asia. On average, each female
will live approximately 40 days and during that period will lay about 25-40 eggs in a tree by
burrowing into it causing damage. These wounds may occur anywhere on the tree, including
branches, trunk, and exposed roots.
Eggs will hatch in one to two weeks, mature, the babies will then migrate into the wood creating
tunnels as they feed.
In a slightly infested tree, these dime-sized, egg laying pits are more common near to the top of
the tree and on larger branches. In a tree that is heavily infested, egg-laying craters can be found on
bark throughout the tree. Currently you can spot many of these beetles if you just look on top of the
daisies which are out and around. / SANDRA JAMES
