It has been a serious pest of urban ornamental birch plantings for nearly 80 years. Today there is still no single method that will ensure complete control of this borer.
Females are slightly larger than males.
The remaining body segments are smaller and ribbon-like in appearance. The larvae bores in the trunk and larger limbs, often girdling them. Trees in low vigor, weakened by drought or injured, are most susceptible to attack. Tree injury is caused by larval tunneling in the inner bark or cambium. The interruption and subsequent accumulation of sap flow above larval tunnels often causes characteristic swollen bands or vein-like ridges in trunks and affected branches.