Moneilema gigas are endemic to the deserts of the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico. These beetles are large (up to about 5 cm excluding antennae) and shiny black. There is a light-grey ring on the fourth segment of the long antennae. The elytra are fused to a hardened shell, and the beetles are unable to fly.
The preferred hosts are chollas and prickly pears (Genus Opuntia). Adults are often seen feeding on soft portions of the cactus. Eggs are laid near the base of the plant, and larvae feed on both roots and stems (Linsley & Chemsak 1984, Phillips & Comus 2000).
Moneilema gigas is a large, flightless, black beetle native to the Sonoran desert at elevations below 1500 metres.[1] The front wings are fused forming a single, hardened shell. Collectively - with 19 other Moneilema species - M. gigas is also known as the cactus longhorn beetle.
Moneilema gigas normally feeds on chollas and prickly pear cacti, and is known to feed on saguaro seedlings. Larvae bore into cactus roots and stems, sometimes killing more susceptible individuals. Adults also feed on the surface of cacti.[2] M. gigas are most active during mid or late summer - the adults typically emerging during the summer monsoon season.
Like many flightless beetles, these beetles have limited wing musculature with a rounded abdomen and thorax, similar in appearance to a number of other flightless desert beetles. Cactus longhorn beetles resemble and mimic the behavior of noxious stink beetles in the genus Eleodes.[3]
Moneilema gigas is a large, flightless, black beetle native to the Sonoran desert at elevations below 1500 metres. The front wings are fused forming a single, hardened shell. Collectively - with 19 other Moneilema species - M. gigas is also known as the cactus longhorn beetle.
Moneilema gigas normally feeds on chollas and prickly pear cacti, and is known to feed on saguaro seedlings. Larvae bore into cactus roots and stems, sometimes killing more susceptible individuals. Adults also feed on the surface of cacti. M. gigas are most active during mid or late summer - the adults typically emerging during the summer monsoon season.
Like many flightless beetles, these beetles have limited wing musculature with a rounded abdomen and thorax, similar in appearance to a number of other flightless desert beetles. Cactus longhorn beetles resemble and mimic the behavior of noxious stink beetles in the genus Eleodes.
Moneilema gigas est une espèce de coléoptères longicornes native du désert de Sonora. Elle se nourrit principalement de Cylindropuntia, de figues de Barbarie et de jeunes plants de saguaros.
Moneilema gigas adalah spesies kumbang tanduk panjang yang tergolong famili Cerambycidae. Spesies ini juga merupakan bagian dari genus Moneilema, ordo Coleoptera, kelas Insecta, filum Arthropoda, dan kingdom Animalia.
Larva kumbang ini biasanya mengebor ke dalam kayu dan dapat menyebabkan kerusakan pada batang kayu hidup atau kayu yang telah ditebang.
Moneilema gigas adalah spesies kumbang tanduk panjang yang tergolong famili Cerambycidae. Spesies ini juga merupakan bagian dari genus Moneilema, ordo Coleoptera, kelas Insecta, filum Arthropoda, dan kingdom Animalia.
Larva kumbang ini biasanya mengebor ke dalam kayu dan dapat menyebabkan kerusakan pada batang kayu hidup atau kayu yang telah ditebang.
Moneilema gigas is een keversoort uit de familie van de boktorren (Cerambycidae). De wetenschappelijke naam van de soort werd voor het eerst geldig gepubliceerd in 1873 door LeConte.[1]
Bronnen, noten en/of referentiesMoneilema gigas là một large, flightless, black beetle bản địa của Sonoran desert at elevations below 1500 mét.[1] The front wings are fused forming a single, hardened shell. Collectively - with 19 other Moneilema species - M. Gigas is tiếng Anh thường gọi là Cactus longhorn beetle.
M. gigas normally feeds on chollas and prickly pear cacti, và is known to feed on saguaro seedlings. Larvae bore into cactus roots and stems, sometimes killing more susceptible individuals. Adults also feed on the surface of cacti.[2] M. gigas are most active during giữa hoặc cuối summer - the adults typically emerging during the summer monsoon season.
Like many flightless beetles, these beetles have limited wing musculature with a rounded abdomen and thorax, similar in appearance to a number of other flightless desert beetles. Cactus longhorn beetles resemble and mimic the behavior of noxious stink beetles thuộc chi Eleodes.[3]
Moneilema gigas là một large, flightless, black beetle bản địa của Sonoran desert at elevations below 1500 mét. The front wings are fused forming a single, hardened shell. Collectively - with 19 other Moneilema species - M. Gigas is tiếng Anh thường gọi là Cactus longhorn beetle.
M. gigas normally feeds on chollas and prickly pear cacti, và is known to feed on saguaro seedlings. Larvae bore into cactus roots and stems, sometimes killing more susceptible individuals. Adults also feed on the surface of cacti. M. gigas are most active during giữa hoặc cuối summer - the adults typically emerging during the summer monsoon season.
Like many flightless beetles, these beetles have limited wing musculature with a rounded abdomen and thorax, similar in appearance to a number of other flightless desert beetles. Cactus longhorn beetles resemble and mimic the behavior of noxious stink beetles thuộc chi Eleodes.