A related species, Agrilus rubicola Abeille, may occur concurrently. This species is uniform in color, ranging from copper-colored to irridescent green. On galled plants, there is less live vegetative growth and more dead wood. There is often reduced berry size and number, as well as vegetative growth with increasing number of galls per plant. Affected canes may not produce fruit.
Canes weakened by galls are more subject to winter injury.
Adults are present from May to August, or late April to early June, depending on the region. Females lay white spherical eggs on the trunk, and produce a yellow viscous material from the ovipositor which is smoothed over into a covering, before fading to white or grey. Larvae exit the egg directly into the plant, never becoming exposed, and so are impervious to sprays. Larvae reach a length of 12 mm, and have a pair of horn-like projections on the posterior end. Larvae winter in the cane, and in March create a pupal chamber.