# Beetle Identification **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 27, 2001, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beetle-identification/70263 "2001-06-27T01:21:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Doobieous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Doobieous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doobieous)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2001, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beetle-identification/70263/1 "2001-06-27T01:21:17Z")
I was out in the garden today watering my plants when from out under a bush crawls this beetle. I have seen them before and I’ve never known what they were. So, i’m asking you guys. I have two images. They arent true to color, so i’ll describe it a bit: [http://student.monterey.edu/dh/garciabarryjames/world/beetle1.jpg](http://student.monterey.edu/dh/garciabarryjames/world/beetle1.jpg) [http://student.monterey.edu/dh/garciabarryjames/world/beetle2.jpg](http://student.monterey.edu/dh/garciabarryjames/world/beetle2.jpg) Anyway, the beetle is two inches long. The last pair of legs are 1 1/2 inches long, ending in two small hooks. The thorax on the underside is covered in a light brownish velvet. The elytra are (together) longish and shield shaped ( 1 1/4 inch by about 3/4 inch). the top of the thorax, just under the head is spined on the sides with two prominent spines and a smaller one towards the elytra. The antennae are jointed and about an inch long. it has two noticeable mandibles, which are an eighth of an inch long themselves (and curved). The overall color is a dark reddish brown, with the abdomen a more orangeish brown color. It also makes a kind of squeaking sound when disturbed. I know, it would help to see it up close, but hopefully the images can help identify it. It has your basic beetle body plan, but it’s such a big thing, i’ve rarely seen this one around. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2001, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beetle-identification/70263/2 "2001-06-27T01:37:43Z")
Well, if he had his pants on, it wasn’t [me](http://www.geocities.com/techchick68/vegas/beatleboxers1.jpg). Sorry, **Doob** , I couldn’t resist. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2001, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beetle-identification/70263/3 "2001-06-27T02:06:17Z")
It looks like a longhorn beetle, family Cerambycidae. Take a look at the eyes. If they have a notch, and the antennae arise out of the notch, that should clinch it. On these ID things, it always helps to say where you are. ---
**Author:** ![Doobieous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Doobieous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doobieous)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2001, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beetle-identification/70263/4 "2001-06-27T02:25:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Colibri \* > \*\*It looks like a longhorn beetle, family Cerambycidae. Take a look at the eyes. If they have a notch, and the antennae arise out of the notch, that should clinch it. > > On these ID things, it always helps to say where you are. \*\* I live in California, near Monterey. The natural habitat is Maritime Chapparal The antennae seem to come from two small bumps on the head, just under the eyes ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2001, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beetle-identification/70263/5 "2001-06-27T02:33:45Z")
This [Pine Sawyer Beetle](http://www.ent3.orst.edu/moldenka/taxons/Ergates.html) is pretty close, but I’m not sure that it’s exactly it. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2001, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beetle-identification/70263/6 "2001-06-27T02:40:53Z")
Looks like a Cerambycid, alright. Probably a prionine, in either the genus Prionus or Ergates. - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2001, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beetle-identification/70263/7 "2001-06-27T02:44:11Z")
Damn **Colibri**! Always beating to me on the bunch on the insect questions 😃 . Well, at least I still have my triumphs in the Hummingbird threads 😛 . - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2001, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beetle-identification/70263/8 "2001-06-27T02:47:13Z")
Actually I’m going to tentatively go with Prionus californicus. [http://beta.parma.uidaho.edu/hops/IMAGES/prionusadult&larvae.jpg](http://beta.parma.uidaho.edu/hops/IMAGES/prionusadult&larvae.jpg) - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2001, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beetle-identification/70263/9 "2001-06-27T02:55:00Z")
Here’s a slightly better shot: [http://www.enature.com/fieldguide/showSpecies\_LI.asp?imageID=18537](http://www.enature.com/fieldguide/showSpecies_LI.asp?imageID=18537) Note that the males have somewhat different looking antennae ( more sawtoothed ) than the females. - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![Jeffro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@Jeffro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeffro)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2001, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beetle-identification/70263/10 "2001-06-27T02:57:51Z")
Is it a good beetle, kills garden pest’s? Or a bad beetle, is a garden pest? ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2001, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beetle-identification/70263/11 "2001-06-27T03:05:07Z")
**jeffro** : Neither, exactly. Regardless of what species ( or genus ) it actually is, prionine Cerambycids are pretty neutral as regards gardens. Overall they’re bad beetles, I guess, because they do damage to trees ( mostly conifers ). But they should neither hurt, nor help, a garden particularly ( unless you have a pine growing back there ). - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2001, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beetle-identification/70263/12 "2001-06-27T03:14:37Z")
Here’s a comparison between [_Prionus californicus_ and _Ergates spicatus_](http://www.bugpeople.org/taxa/Coleoptera/Cerambycidae/Ergates_spiculatus/deleteme.htm). Prionus looks pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2001, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beetle-identification/70263/13 "2001-06-27T03:26:30Z")
Slight correction - Prionus californicus is principally a root borer of deciduous trees ( they are reported as causing damage to oaks, madrone, cottonwood, and some fruit trees ). They will burrow into moist, dead, conifers, causing some loss to salvage operations ( something it has in common with Ergates spiculatus ). **Colibri** : Great link 🙂 . - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_Yanega](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@Doug\_Yanega](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_Yanega)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2001, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beetle-identification/70263/14 "2001-06-27T03:37:12Z")
It’s a female Prionus, quite probably californicus, but there are one or two other less common possibilities. ---
**Author:** ![Doobieous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Doobieous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doobieous)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2001, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beetle-identification/70263/15 "2001-06-27T04:16:15Z")
Yes! It MUST be a Prionus! The image link Tamerlane gave looks JUST like it (especially with the elytra being a little shorter than the abdomen). It must also be a female…the antennae arent as saw toothed on the one I caught. Also, I let the Prionus go back into my yard. I never found these insects until I planted some shrubs, a flowering plum, and added wood chips for mulch. I guess they like the conditions in the yard (i found a prionus there last year as well…and about the same time too). Thanks sooooo much guys. I have been wondering what those beetles were for at least 12 years or so when I saw my first one (which freaked me out, the way it made noise when disturbed).