Great fig tree borer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Great fig tree borer |
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| Museum specimen of Batocera boisduvali | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
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| Order: | |
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| Superfamily: |
Cerambycoidea
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| Family: | |
| Subfamily: |
Lamiinae
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| Genus: |
Batocera
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| Species: |
B. boisduvali
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| Binomial name | |
| Batocera boisduvali (Hope, 1839)
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The great fig tree borer, also known as Batocera boisduvali, is a type of large beetle. It belongs to a group of beetles called longhorn beetles. These beetles are known for their very long antennae!
What Does It Look Like?
This beetle is quite big! It can grow to be about 50 to 57 millimeters long. That's about the length of your thumb!
Its hard wing covers, called elytra, are dark grey. They have cool white or yellowish spots all over them.
Life Cycle and What They Eat
Adult great fig tree borers like to drink sap from tree bark. It's like their favorite drink!
The young beetles, called larvae, are different. They dig tunnels deep inside the trunks and big branches of trees. They munch on the wood as they grow.
These larvae especially like to eat certain fig trees. Some of their favorite trees include Ficus watkinsiana, Ficus rubiginosa, Ficus microphylla, and Ficus ehretioides. They also enjoy the Alstonia scholaris tree.
Where Do They Live?
You can find the great fig tree borer in the rainforests of Australia. They live in places like New South Wales and Queensland.
