Moneilemaspp.
Cactus longhorn beetles , Moneilemaspp . , account for 20 of the 35,000 specie in the large Cerambycidae or longhorn beetle mob .
We join to vendors to help you find relevant products . If you buy from one of our links , we may earn a commission .
Black and shiny , they are often confused with beetle from theEleodesgenus in the Tenebrionidae class , such as the malodourous - when - threatened desert stink beetle .
However , unlike these desert counterparts , cactus longhorns can not fly and do not bung on smoke or burrow into farmers ’ crops . These beetles course solely on cacti .
In this article , we ’ll hash out how to recognize and address cactus longhorn beetle in a desert landscape painting .
Here ’s the batting order :
What You’ll Learn
Let ’s start with a verbal description for easy recognition .
Identification
Cactus longhorns have shells that are blackened or black with ashen mottling , usually with visible indentation and a glossy luster .
The bodies of adults mensuration between 13 and 37 millimeters , or about half an inch to one inch long . They have the distinctive chemical compound body of beetle lie of an abdominal cavity , pectus , and caput .
The segment are rounded , and the head by and large channelise downward , creating a out to carriage as the mandible chews through plant tissue .
Prominent antenna and six splayed legs contribute to the overall dimension for a formidable appearance .
Unlike some mallet , Moneilemacannot flee . They have fused wings called elytra that run from the topmost dowry of the chest call the pronotum , down over the low thorax and abdomen , forming a hard exoskeleton or shell .
The young larva are beige and chow - like with brown heads .
The shiny , pitch-black cactus longhorn , M. gigas , is a mutual species in Arizona ’s Sonoran Desert and its environs .
In Texas , the blemish type , M. blapsidesssp.ulkei , is dominant . It ’s black dapple with whitened .
In 1824 , American bugologist Thomas Say , an expert in coleopterous dirt ball , aka beetles , classified these , and the other 18 standardised mintage as cactus longhorn .
Host Plants
Insects evolve with plant life that provide tax shelter and solid food for both their immature and the adults of the coinage .
The “ host ” plants forMoneilemaare two species in the Opuntioideae subfamily of cacti .
Prickly pear cactusis in the Opuntieae tribe andOpuntiagenus . Cholla cactus is in the Cylindropuntieae tribe andCylindropuntia genus . These species have prospicient , sharp thorn and clusters of short , thorny bristles calledglochid pricker .
timeserving and ever - evolving , the beetles are sometimes found on piddling barrel , aka fishhook , cacti . They belong to to theSclerocactusgenus .
Moneilemaalso provender on young saguaro cacti , members of theCarnegieagenus .
And , they may even use efflorescence plants in thePortulacagenus as hosts .
know which species they choose can help identify the pests on garden specimens . Understanding their behavior can aid in heading off an plague .
Life Cycle and Behavior
Cactus longhorns are alive from spring through fall , and seasonal monsoon pelting are the catalyst that triggers their activity .
Adults last among the sharp spines and provender on the surface of the tenderest leafage . They are nocturnal and crepuscular , or fighting at twilight .
female walk on the soil after a night of saltation mating , laying their eggs in various places near the bag of cacti radical .
When the eggs hatch , larvae emerge and endeavor to burrow into the thickset fore frame . Progress is difficult , as plant juices are released that slack them down .
As they mature , larvae provender voraciously and burrow deeply . They pass “ frass ” that mix with the plant juices , resulting in a black , gooey people that , in force , seal their ego - bored tunnels behind them .
Larvae change to pupa either in the dirt or cactus base . Some specie come forth for a 2nd reproductive cycle , while others wo n’t re-emerge until the next spring .
Signs of Damage
BecauseMoneilemaaren’t active in the day and cactus pricker can be very dense , you may not notice them until price is underway .
change in colour , consistency , and embodiment , like yellowing , voiced spots , and unpredictable stem margins , are telltale signs that something is wrong .
symptom of adult feeding include Earth’s surface - level chewing of the tenderest , newest plant life foliage .
The activity of larvae creates interior damage , hollow out stem and causing them to become mere skeletons before collapse in on themselves .
injure plant tissue paper may rot , pay for a host of timeserving pathogens to contribute to the death of a plant .
As a resilient group of plants accustomed to desert stressor , you may find a seriously damaged cactus attempting to survive by produce “ adventitious ” root that seek ground to thrive .
skip over cholla , Cylindropuntia fulgida , has slack segments that readily detach . In an infestation you may find total branches lying on the ground , possibly already rooted there .
Without remedy , you may drop off entire cacti to these desert threat .
Infestation Control
In their innate home ground , Moneilemaare a delicacy for lizards , stinkpot , and wood scab . However , pull in wildlife to keep the pest population down may be uneffective and unwanted .
Instead , corrupt a pair of long - treat pair of pincers .
silicone polymer Tipped pincer
This couplet from the RSVP International Store andavailable via Amazonis intended for kitchen use but is equally assess in the garden .
A generous 12 - column inch length let you stay well out of the cactus spines , and ribbed silicone crest ensure a firm suitcase on undesirable pests . Stainless - steel construction promise long - lasting vesture .
In the Desert Southwest , monsoon time of year begins in mid - June , and this is the time to keep a close watch on your plants . Go out in the early evening to catch the adults before conjugation and ballock laying .
outwear gloves not only to avoid the spine but because , while mallet may not be prone to bite people , they have substantial mandibles capable of puncture tegument .
practice the pair of pincers to spellbind the pests and drop down them into a zippered plastic old bag . goose egg it and place it inside a second zippered bagful .
If you have the stomach for it , you could step on the bags to crush the bugs , but beetles have toughened shells , so it may take some effort .
Entomologists who canvass insects believe freezing a humanist way to terminate them .
And while it may take up to a week , calculate upon their cold tolerance , you may find it preferred to a stomp fest .
If you choose this method , just put down the double - bagged bugs in the freezer and dispose of them in the rubbish when all are at rest .
Win the Beetle Battle
Once you know what to bet for , you’re able to confidently approach cactus longhorn beetle , despite their intimidate appearance .
behave apace to take away as many adults as potential . Because the eggs are incase in soil or stem turn bases , they are hard to locate and address .
retrieve that the adults may do surface damage , but larvae can hollow out total plants if their feeding goes uncurbed .
And , even if you capture and kill adults this year , you ’ll want to remain open-eyed next class . Pupae that hold up the wintertime will egress in the leap to get going the spirit cycle again .
And to learn to grow cacti and succulents in your garden , tally out these guides next :
© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . production picture via RSVP International Store . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
About
Nan Schiller
