Although this nice Saperda species used to be quite rare in Central Europe, it has now become more frequent. The species develops in various poplars (Populus). In Central Bohemia, however, it prefers aspen (Populus tremula). The larvae feed subcortically in trunks or branches of the dead hosts. They require a very moist substrate. Pupation occurs in sapwood. Interestingly, the colour of the adults is determined by the larval host. The integument of beetles that have developped in aspen (P. tremula) is regularly of a yellow-green or yellow-grey colour, whereas beetles that have developed in white poplar (P. alba) are usually grey (prototypical mimicry).
The depicted beetles were reared from larvae and pupae (Figure 1) collected in Lodrant near Pardubice (East Bohemia, Czech Republic), Mníšek pod Brdy (Central Bohemia, Czech Republic) and Pohansko (South Moravia, Czech Republic). Collected by M.Hoskovec.
MH & MR © September 7, 2007
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