Species Ergates spiculatus - Ponderous Borer

Classification · Other Common Names · Food

Beetle found in Tree, Please help - Ergates spiculatus

Northern California Coast - Ergates spiculatus

Ponderous Borer - Ergates spiculatus - female

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 Callipogonini

Genus Ergates

Species spiculatus (Ponderous Borer)

Other Common Names

In a quick review of Google mentions this beetle has also been called a Pine Sawyer, Western Pine Sawyer, Spined Woodborer, and Ponderosa Pine Borer. The last name may be a conflation of Ponderous Borer and Pine Sawyer although it should be noted that ponderosa is Spanish for ponderous and would be a logical name for Spaniards in early California to give to both the huge pine trees of the high Sierras and the huge beetles that bored in them.

Food

Grubs are found chiefly in ponderosa pine and Douglas fir.

Contributed by Jim McClarin on 31 August, 2006 - 11:58pm
Last updated 11 August, 2008 - 6:46pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2010 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by Iowa State University Entomology.

Printer Friendly Version