Vernon NewsBanded alder borers are all over the place and are completely harmlessBorer bugs live herePhoto: Contributed Several readers have sent in pictures of this black-and-white striped critter, bringing us to Castanet's Bug of the Week. The banded alder borer is a rather striking-looking insect with its zebra-esque colouring and long antennae, it is easily noticed. Several readers have sent in pictures of this black-and-white striped critter, bringing us to Castanet's Bug of the Week. The banded alder borer is a rather striking-looking insect with its zebra-esk colouring and long antennae, it is easily noticed. In the adult stage, the banded alder borer, often called BAB for short, feasts on pollen and are considered harmless to healthy trees.