Species Megapurpuricenus magnificus - Texas Canyon Longhorn Beetle

Arizona Oak Borer(1)

Megapurpuricenus magnificus (LeConte)(2)

Orig. Comb: Purpuricenus magnificus LeConte 1875

25-38 mm(2)

se AZ (Cochise & Pima Cos.) to c. Mexico (Hovore 1983, Sánchez-Martínez et al. 2010)

in Mexico, most damage occurred in pure Quercus potosina stands at 2500-2642 m elevations with low slopes

Jun-Aug (adults emerge in late June or early July and have been collected as late as August 3); rarely encountered, but sometimes collected in large numbers (Hovore 1983)

Oaks (Arizona white oak, Emory oak, silverleaf oak) (Hovore 1983)

Adult appear to emerge in response to summer "monsoon" rains. Adult daily activity largely restricted to 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Largest flights occur on warm sunny mornings following rain, decreasing each dry day but increasing again after additional rain. Males fly swiftly over treetops or lazily circle the tree canopy. Females are usually on the outer foliage. Collections suggest mass emergence in 3-year cycles, with few or no specimens during intervening years.(1)

Hovore F.T. (1983) 1984. Taxonomic and biological observations on southwestern Cerambycidae (Coleoptera). Col. Bull. 37: 379–387 (JSTOR)

Sánchez-Martínez G., Moreno-Rico O., Siqueiros-Delgado M.E. (2010) Crioprosopus magnificus LeConte (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in Aguascalientes, Mexico: Biological observations and geographical distribution. Col. Bull. 64: 319-328 (BioOne)