# Red Oak Borer (*enaphalodes rufulus*)

The Red Oak Borer is a fascinating beetle that loves to munch on oak trees! Its unique shape and colors make it an exciting insect to discover in the forest.

- **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger
- **Habitat:** Red Oak Borers live in oak forests and woodlands where they can find plenty of oak trees to feed on.
- **Also known as:** Oak Borer Beetle, Red Oak Beetle

![Red Oak Borer](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Enaphalodes_rufulus_P1460445a.jpg&width=800)

Photo: xpda, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Enaphalodes_rufulus_P1460445a.jpg)

## Appearance

The Red Oak Borer is a large, elongated beetle, typically reddish-brown to dark brown, with very long antennae often exceeding its body length. Its hard wing covers may have subtle lighter markings, and its body appears somewhat flattened.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Coleoptera
- **Family:** Cerambycidae
- **Genus:** Enaphalodes

## Interesting facts

- Adult beetles only live a few weeks, their main job is to find a mate quickly!
- Female borers lay eggs in tiny cracks of oak tree bark, often unseen by most!
- Its larvae can live inside oak trees for up to three years before becoming adults!
- Sometimes, you can hear their chewing inside trees if you listen very closely!

## Special abilities

- **Wood Driller:** Red Oak Borer larvae have powerful mandibles that help them tunnel extensively through hard oak wood for protection and food.
- **Antenna Navigator:** Adults have very long, segmented antennae that help them detect chemical signals and navigate their forest environment.

## Measurements & details

- **Wingspan:** 40-80 mm
- **Size:** 20-40 mm
- **Lifespan:** 760-1185 days
- **Leg Count:** 6

## Diet & Feeding

Larvae munch on oak wood inside trees, while adult beetles might sip a bit of tree sap.

- **Age differences:** Larvae consume wood, while adults typically feed little or on tree sap.
- **Primary Foods:** oak wood, tree sap
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Depends on:** Red Oak (*Quercus rubra*) — Larvae feed on wood, causing damage and providing shelter.
- **Eats:** [Pileated Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pileated-woodpecker) (*Dryocopus pileatus*) — Woodpeckers dig for larvae hidden inside oak trees.
- **Parasitizes:** Oak Borer Wasp (*Spathius braconis*) — This tiny wasp lays eggs on the beetle larvae inside tree tunnels.

## Traits

- [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.

## Collections

- [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects)

## Safety

**Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Red Oak Borer?

Look for hard wing covers meeting in a line down the back, then compare the antennae, body shape, legs and markings. Metallic colors shift a lot with lighting. Beetle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### What is Red Oak Borer's wingspan?

40-80 mm

### How big is Red Oak Borer?

20-40 mm

### How long does Red Oak Borer live?

760-1185 days

### What does Red Oak Borer eat?

Larvae munch on oak wood inside trees, while adult beetles might sip a bit of tree sap.

### Where is Red Oak Borer usually found?

Red Oak Borers live in oak forests and woodlands where they can find plenty of oak trees to feed on.

### How does Red Oak Borer hunt?

Foraging

### How many legs does Red Oak Borer have?

6

## Where to spot

- [W.J. Freeman Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/w-j-freeman-park) — Tennessee, US · Park

## More Insects

- [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*)
- [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*)
- [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*)
- [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*)

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Source: [Red Oak Borer: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-oak-borer)