Placosternus difficilis, commonly known as the mesquite borer, is a wood-boring longhorn beetle[1][2] which resembles a black and yellow wasp.[3] Larvae of mesquite borers are deposited in, among others, mesquite trees, although it has been recorded from a range of hosts and is considered polyphagous.[4] It has been seen to be attracted to mesquite trees when there is freshly cut or broken limbs and logs. Adults use nectar and pollen as a food source.[5][3][6][2]
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| Species: | P. difficilis
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| Placosternus difficilis (Chevrolat, 1862)
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It is known from the United States (California to Texas), Mexico, Honduras, Cuba, and the Bahamas.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b Bezark, Larry G. "Clytini". A Photographic Catalog of the Cerambycidae of the World. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
- ^ a b "Species Placosternus difficilis – Mesquite Borer". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
- ^ a b "Cerambycidae ~ Longhorn Beetles". Valerie's Austin Bug Collection.
- ^ Vargas-Cardoso, Orthon R.; Corona-López, Angélica M.; López-Martínez, Víctor; Flores-Palacios, Alejandro; Figueroa-Brito, Rodolfo & Toledo-Hernández, Víctor H. (2018). "New host records of Cerambycidae (Coleoptera) from central Mexico". Pan-Pacific Entomologist. 94 (2): 91–102. doi:10.3956/2018-94.2.91. S2CID 92657610.
- ^ "Mesquite Borer - Placosternus difficilis (Chevrolat, 1862)". Texas Beetle Information.
- ^ Mesquite Borer - What's That Bug?