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Morphology

Adult: large-sized species (7 mm), glabrous, coloration variable. Head red, rest of body spotted with red and black. Legs blackish brown.
Egg: inserted deeply into the wood, with a characteristic opening clearly visible (2 mm).
Larva: stage I-III, dark red with strong black hairs giving them a spiny aspect. Stages IV and V, purple with spines located on sides of the abdomen.

Biology

The insect overwinters as an egg. Hatching occurs between April and mid-May depending on the regions. The adults appear in summer. There is one generation per year.

Distribution

A common species but always found in small numbers.