Mouthparts are for chewing. This beetle attacks 126 plant species including pecan, peach, plum, cherry, persimmon, golden raintree, sweet gum, Shumard oak, Chinese elm, sweet potato and magnolia. Infestations start with a female beetle boring in to a twig, branch or trunk of a host plant. Host material can range from approximately 0.8 inch to 11.8 inches in diameter. This beetle will attack seemingly healthy trees.
Attacks generally occur on the trunk of the host plant.
Immature stages can be found by splitting open infested twigs and branches. Adults can also be obtained this way, reared from infested wood or trapped using a flight intercept trap - a pane of glass with a trough underneath it baited with ethanol. See Wood-boring Insects of Trees and Shrubs. For additional information, contact your local Texas extension service agent, or search for other state extension service offices.