Explanation of Names
Author of genus is
Geoffroy, 1762.
Prionus is New Latin, from Greek
prion (πριων) a saw
(1), no doubt referring to the antennae.
Numbers
16 spp. in North America, divided into four subgenera:
subg. Prionus Geoffroy; 12-13 antennomeres, generally distributed
P. californicus Motschulsky (male 24-45mm, female 38-55mm) wNAmer
P. heroicus Semenov (male 27-51mm, female 35-50mm) swUSA (AZ, NM)
P. laticollis (Drury) (male 22-32mm, female 31-44mm) eNAmer
P. lecontei Lameere (male 30-45mm, female 52-60mm) wNAmer
P. pocularis Dalman in Schoenherr (male 25-38mm, female 28-45mm) eNAmer
subg. Homaesthesis LeConte; 12-14 antennomeres, dull, not striolate, central and western US
P. arenarius Hovore (male 17-33mm, female 20-24mm) swUSA (TX, NM)
P. emarginatus Say (male 17-22mm, female 22-25mm) c USA (CO, WY, NM)
P. integer LeConte (male 24-25mm, female 20-22mm) c USA (ID, NE, UT, CO, KS)
P. linsleyi Hovore (male 16mm, female 20mm) swUSA (AZ)
P. palparis Say (male 24-37mm, female 35-40mm) scUSA (AZ, NM, CO, KS, NB, OK)
P. rhodocerus Linsley (male 19-25mm, female 23mm) wcUSA ( KS, NB, NM, AZ, CO, UT)
P. simplex (Casey) (male 22-25mm, female ?mm) c USA (KS)
P. spinipennis Hovore & Turnbow (male 20-32mm, female 29-30mm) swUSA (NM, TX)
subg. Neopolyarthron Semenov; 15-20 antennomeres
P. debilis Casey (male 20-28mm, female 34-36mm) c USA (IA, IL-LA, TX)
P. imbricornis (Linnaeus) (male 24-39mm, female 32-50mm) eUSA-TX
[Note: According to Doug Yanega (pers. comm. to =v=, 11/19/09), the status of the species needs much study. He argues that should P. imbricornis, as currently defined, turns out to be a single species based on DNA evidence, then P. debilis will be suppressed as a part of it; it is, however, more likely that P. imbricornis will turn out a complex of species, in which case P. debilis will retain its current standing.]
subg. Antennalia Casey; 25-30 antennomeres
P. fissicornis Haldeman (male 27-36mm, female 32-40mm) c USA (MT-TX)
Identification
Sexual dimorphism obvious. Twelve or more antennomeres;
distinctly poriferous in males,
less in females ......
.
Print References
The Century Dictionary--entry for
Prionus (1)
1996. Chemsak, A.J. Illustrated Revision of the Cerambycidae of North America. Vol. I, Subfamilies Parandrinae, Spondylidinae, Aseminae, Prioninae. Wolfsgarden Press, Burbank, ix+150pp., 10 pls.
1962. Linsley E.G. The Cerambycidae of North America. Part II. Taxonomy and classification of the Parandrinae, Prioninae, Spondylinae and Aseminae. Univ. Calif. Publ. Entomol., 19:1-102, 1 pl., 34 figs.
