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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Polyphaga » Series Cucujiformia » Longhorn and Leaf Beetles (Chrysomeloidea) » Longhorn Beetles (Cerambycidae) » Cerambycinae » Clytini » Placosternus » Mesquite Borer (Placosternus difficilis)
Photo#2062154
What bug is this? - Placosternus difficilis
Copyright © 2021 PONYRCR

What bug is this? - Placosternus difficilis
Roma, Starr County, Texas, USA
November 1, 2021
Found at Falcon State Park, Roma, TX. The gentleman who found it said it squeaks when gently squeezed.
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Contributed by PONYRCR on 15 November, 2021 - 2:51pm
Last updated 16 November, 2021 - 1:23pm

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… Brady Richards, 16 November, 2021 - 10:56am login or register to post comments

Either a Locust Borer (Me
Either a Locust Borer (Megacyllene robiniae) or a Mesquite Borer (Platycosternus difficilis).

Maybe a Painted Hickory Borer (Megacyllene caryae), but those only emerge in spring.
… Silas J. Eckhardt, 15 November, 2021 - 3:54pm login or register to post comments

 
While Megacylle caryae
is a Spring species in the eastern U.S., it occurs in both the Spring and Fall in central and south Texas.
… Robert Androw, 16 November, 2021 - 10:44pm login or register to post comments

 
Oh. Sorry 'bout that. I live
Oh. Sorry 'bout that. I live in the Eastern US, and so that's what I've found to be true for my region. Dr. Arthur V. Evans actually told me they were a spring species, so that's what I was going off.
… Silas J. Eckhardt, 17 November, 2021 - 6:36am login or register to post comments

 
No problem...
You're correct about their early flight period for most of their range. I was pleasantly surprised to take a nice series of specimens near George West, Texas in October some years ago - and at blacklight, no less! I also got Placosternus difficilis at the same time. I didn't realize I had gotten two species until I processed the sample, but I was suspicious due to the large size of the Megacyllene - some are twice the size of the eastern specimens.
… Robert Androw, 17 November, 2021 - 10:29am login or register to post comments

 
It is Placosternus difficilis
The Mesquite Borer
… Jeffrey A Back, 15 November, 2021 - 11:52pm login or register to post comments

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