Whitespotted Sawyer

M. scutellatus is a saproxylic insect, which means that at least part of its life cycle is dependent on either dead or dying wood.[4] For these beetles to successfully colonize a new habitat, such as an area that has been burned by forest fire, it must be of high enough quality and in close enough range. Studies have shown that several Monochamus species use pheromones of bark beetles as kairomones to find suitable host habitats quickly and efficiently, enabling them to devote time and energy to other activities.[9] In the cases of succession after fires, the abundance of M. scutellatus is positively correlated with the severity of the fire, the abundance and size of the burned trees, and the distance between burned and unburned land.[4] However, more larvae tend to be found in areas with a larger percentage of unburned forest within 500 metres, which may be related to the dietary requirements of the adult beetles.[2] Adult females seem to prefer to lay their eggs in trees with thick bark and phloem, and consequently trees with diameters greater than 8 – 10 centimetres. These trees are more able to inhibit water loss during fires, preserving the quality preferred by females