Prionini

Prionini

Classification

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Prionini: //ˌpraɪəˈnaɪni//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Prionus californicus01 by wikipedia. Used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.
Prionus californicus (42711806322) by Donald Hobern from Copenhagen, Denmark. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.
Orthosoma brunneum - Brown Prionid - (a long-horned beetle species) (48245002742) by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.
Prionus spinipennis by Jared Shorma. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.
Prionus californicus (28887588038) by Donald Hobern from Copenhagen, Denmark. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.
Orthosoma brunneum - Brown Prionid - (a long-horned beetle species) (48244917176) by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Summary

Prionus is a genus of long-horned beetles known for their large size and nocturnal habits. The larvae are important decomposers in forest ecosystems as they feed on rotting wood.

Physical Characteristics

Members of the genus Prionus are large (25–70 mm) and usually brown or black, with twelve or more strongly toothed or flabellate antennomeres on their large antennae.

Identification Tips

Look for robust bodies with long antennae; adults exhibit overlapping antennomeres and have apical segments often produced into lobes.

Habitat

Widespread in Europe, Asia, and North America, inhabiting areas with rotting wood or roots where their larvae can feed.

Distribution

22 species in 3 genera locally, 74 species in 9 genera across the New World; Prionus coriarius is found in England, while Prionus imbricornis, Prionus californicus, and Prionus laticollis are common in North America.

Diet

Larvae feed on rotting wood or roots; adults are attracted to light.

Life Cycle

The life cycle of Prionus species involves a larval stage that develops in decaying plant matter, indicating a typical wood-boring insect life cycle.

Ecosystem Role

As decomposers, they play a significant role in breaking down decaying wood and organic matter in their habitat.

Collecting Methods

  • Light traps for adults at night
  • Bark and wood sampling for larvae

Preservation Methods

  • Ethanol preservation for specimens
  • Pinning for adult individuals

Similar Taxa

Tags

  • Coleoptera
  • Cerambycidae
  • Entomology
  • Prionini
  • Biology