Entomology (Study of Bugs)/Identify beetle

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Expert: Nathan Riggs - 5/26/2009


Question
A student found a beetle outside of my classroom located in Antioch California (contra Costa County.  I am sure that it is a longhorn beetle but am confused as to what type.  It is very big (approx. 2" not including antennae, dark reddish brown, with long antennae.  It has mean looking mandibles and makes a crackling/hissing noise when disturbed.  It's antennae seem to be too thin to be a wood boring beetle but other than that it sure looks like the picture (image 9) I saw on en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jacobs65.jpg.  Can you help?  What does it eat?  Thanks!

Answer
The noise comes from the beetle rubbing its mandibles together.  This type of beetle infests ligustrums.  It feeds on fruit.

It might be any of the following species...Nothopleurus lobigenis or Prionus californicus.

Not 100% sure, though.  I am having a time trying to find the borer I'm thinking of right now.


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Entomology (Study of Bugs)

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Nathan Riggs

Expertise

I currently live in San Antonio, TX and have expertise in identifying insects, many types of spiders, and other arthropod critters that infest lawns, ornamentals, structures, trees, pets and livestock. Mites are not a strong point of mine. I'm not a licensed doctor, so I cannot provide medical diagnosis of conditions possibly related to insects or other arthropods. If you've got an interesting photo for me to see, let me know and I'll give you my email so the picture will get to me. If you have hosted an insect photo on a website, please include the link so I can go look at it and provide a faster ID for you. Don't forget...you can now attach pictures to your questions as well!

Experience

19 Years' Experience as an entomologist: 5 years as a biologist with Merck Animal Health and 7 years as an Integrated Pest Management(IPM)Specialist in San Antonio, Texas with Texas Cooperative Extension.

Publications
Veterinary Parasitology, Southwestern Entomologist, San Antonio Express News, San Antonio Gardener Newsletter

Education/Credentials
BS - Entomology from Texas A&M University in 1992.

Board Certified Entomologist, 1996-2000 - Medical and Veterinary Entomology Specialty (Entomological Society of America)

Awards and Honors
2000 Texas A&M University Vice Chancellor's Award in Excellence for leadership on the Texas Fire Ant Program Educational Team.

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