A. zeae gained notoriety in 1927 when many of the species were found boring into the shoots of the common elder bush (Sambucus nigra) in Wisconsin, USA.
A 'Bour Tree' is an alternative name for the Common Elder tree, Sambucus nigra, often found in the older and more biodiverse local woodlands.
The pen may well survive to this day, made of a cylindrical piece of wood (elder?), and has the diamond inserted at one end in a metal extension.
The larvae feed on various herbaceous and woody plants, including Fragaria virginiana, Rubus idaeus, Malus, Alnus, Sambucus nigra and Viola.
Sambucus nigra | Sambucus | Centaurea nigra | Pinus nigra | Sambucus racemosa | Juglans nigra | Fraxinus nigra | Carex nigra | Brassica nigra | Populus nigra | Tinea nigra | Sambucus mexicana | Prosopis nigra | Porta Nigra | ''Populus nigra'', originating in the United States from plantings by André Michaux | M. nigra | Mined leaf of ''Centaurea nigra | Leaf of ''Ballota nigra | Hoplocorypha nigra | Gila nigra | Betula nigra | A shoot of ''Centaurea nigra |
At present, about 1 hectare is planted with specimens including Aesculus hippocastanum, Laurus nobilis, Prunus avium, and Sambucus nigra, as well as Helleborus, Polypodium, Seseli, and Valeriana.
Other plants with suspected or known medicinal properties were also in their repertory and grow abundantly in the area, among them the lemon balm Melissa officinalis, St John’s Wort Hypericum perforatum, absinth Artemisia absinthium and the elder bush Sambucus nigra