Melittomma sericeum

Melittomma sericeum (Harris, 1841) Collection information. USA: Georgia (new state record *): Clarke Co.: four individuals from three sites. Caught in flight trap from 16 June – 27 July 2020. Distribution. Eastern North America. Saproxylic habits. Larvae bore through wounded wood, broken branches, dying trees, stumps, and freshly cut logs of oak, primarily white oak (Solomon 1995); adult females transport a symbiotic ambrosial fungus to new hosts with mycangia near their ovipositor, and this fungus grows on the walls of larval tunnels (Young 2002 a); historically, M. Sericeum preferred American chestnut (Hopkins 1893).