Eleodes-mimicry

Guides

• Moneilema

  cactus longhorn beetles, cactus beetles

  Moneilema is a genus of large, flightless, black longhorn beetles endemic to North American deserts. The genus contains twenty species distributed across the western United States and northern Mexico. Adults and larvae are exclusively associated with cacti in the subfamily Opuntioideae, including prickly pears (Opuntia) and chollas (Cylindropuntia). The beetles are notable for their remarkable mimicry of darkling beetles in the genus Eleodes, including similar appearance and defensive head-standing behavior despite lacking chemical defenses.

  flightlessdesertcactusmimicrynocturnalherbivoreCerambycidaeLamiinaeNorth-AmericaOpuntiaCylindropuntiaEleodes-mimicrymonsoon-emergencePleistocene-biogeographypest-of-endangered-plants