Species Derobrachus hovorei - Palo Verde Root Borer

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Numbers · Range · Habitat · Food · Remarks · Internet References

Beetle in Las Vegas, Nevada - Derobrachus hovorei - male

Palo Verde root borer - Derobrachus hovorei - female

Palo Verde Root Borer - Derobrachus hovorei

One day after the first monsoon storm, at night at the patio light - Derobrachus hovorei

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Polyphaga (Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles)

Superfamily Chrysomeloidea (Long-horned and Leaf Beetles)

Family Cerambycidae (Longhorned Beetles)

Subfamily Prioninae

Tribe Prionini

Genus Derobrachus

Species hovorei (Palo Verde Root Borer)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

This common and widely distributed species has been called "Derobrachus geminatus", but examination of type specimens revealed that the true geminatus refers to a much less common species we have called "Derobrachus forreri" (Santos-Silva, 2007, Arquivos de Zoologia, 38:1-94). Rules of nomenclature require that the name geminatus be applied to the less common species (with forreri as a synonym), leaving the common species without a name. Derobrachus hovorei is the new name given to this species, which can be distinguished from true D. geminatus (formerly D. forreri) by its more weakly striolate antennae.

Ted MacRae

Numbers

one of 4 species in this genus in North America listed at nearctica.com; most occur in the southwest.

Range

southwestern United States (AZ, CA, NM, NV, TX) and northern Mexico

Habitat

adults are attracted to light

Food

larvae feed on roots of paloverde trees (Parkinsonia spp.)

Remarks

described in 1853 by LeConte

Internet References

pinned adult images (Harvard U.)

species account (Wikipedia)

Contributed by Phillip Harpootlian on 19 July, 2005 - 8:26am
Additional contributions by Robin McLeod, Mike Quinn
Last updated 1 January, 2008 - 5:44pm

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