As an established soft-hearted person and gardener, I strive to love all creatures great and small. But Mexican bean beetles, Epilachna varivestis, put me to the test.These bugs and their larvae plague different types of bean plants
How to Identify and Manage Cactus Longhorn Beetles
12.06.2023 - 01:12 / gardenerspath.com / Nan Schiller
How to Identify and Manage Cactus Longhorn Beetles Moneilema spp.Cactus longhorn beetles, Moneilema spp., account for 20 of the 35,000 species in the large Cerambycidae or longhorn beetle family.
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Black and shiny, they are often confused with beetles from the Eleodes genus in the Tenebrionidae family, such as the malodorous-when-threatened desert stink beetle.
However, unlike these desert counterparts, cactus longhorns cannot fly and do not feed on grasses or burrow into farmers’ crops. These beetles feed solely on cacti.
In this article, we’ll discuss how to recognize and address cactus longhorn beetles in a desert landscape.
Here’s the lineup:
Let’s start with a description for easy recognition.
IdentificationCactus longhorns have shells that are black or black with white mottling, usually with visible pitting and a glossy sheen.
The bodies of adults measure between 13 and 37 millimeters, or about half an inch to one inch long. They have the typical compound body of beetles consisting of an abdomen, thorax, and head.
The segments are rounded, and the head generally points downward, creating a bent posture as the mandible chews through plant tissue.
Prominent antennae and six splayed legs contribute to the overall dimensions for a formidable appearance.
Unlike some beetles, Moneilema cannot fly. They have fused wings called elytra that run from the uppermost portion of the thorax called the pronotum, down over the lower thorax and abdomen, forming a hard exoskeleton or shell.
The immature larvae are beige and grub-like with brown heads.
The shiny, black cactus longhorn, M. gigas, is a common species in Arizona’s Sonoran
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