Cottonwood Borer vs Square-spot Rustic
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Cottonwood Borer | Square-spot Rustic |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Plectrodera scalator | Xestia xanthographa |
| Order | Coleoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Cerambycidae | Noctuidae |
| Size | 25-40 mm | 32-38 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Gardens |
| Diet | Root Feeders | Root Feeders |
| Regions | Central and eastern United States | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Cottonwood Borer
A large longhorn beetle with bold black and white patterning and long antennae. Its larvae bore into the roots and lower trunks of cottonwood and willow trees.
Did You Know?
When handled, it produces a loud squeaking sound by rubbing parts of its thorax together.
Square-spot Rustic
An extremely common autumn-flying moth with a diagnostic square stigma on the forewing. One of the most abundant moths in British gardens. Larvae feed on grasses.
Did You Know?
Often the single most abundant moth species in garden moth traps during September.