Species Oncideres rhodosticta - Mesquite Girdler

Oncideres rhodosticta Bates 1885

12-19 mm(1)

Distinguished from O. cingulata by three black dots on thorax, O. pustulata by much smaller size.

Det. M. A. Quinn, 2017

AZ to sw TX / n. Mex (1)

Aug-Dec (BG data)

Twigs of Mesquite, acacia, mimosa, parkinsonia, ebony; Honey Mesquite appears to be the preferred host(1)

Adults were observed at 1pm on an overcast day in September girdling trees scattered over a broad wash 5 mi SE Portal, AZ. Females were feeding on tender bark out near the tips of freshly girdled branches. They were braced against branchlets or thorns with the legs wrapped around the branch, the head facing outward, with the antennae extended forward. Some females had made as many as 10 egg niches, five on each side of the branch and separated by 5-5.7 cm on a side; others had not yet begun to oviposit. Most of the girdles were 11-12 mm. Males were usually found resting in a pairing position but when separated from, or searching for, the female they ran up and down the branches above the girdle with the antennae extending forward, one on each side of the branch.(2)

widespread and common girdler of mesquite (Prosopis juliflora)(2)

Oncideres cingulata (Say)

- Range: e US

Det. M. A. Quinn, 2010

Texas Entomology - Mike Quinn 2007