The Palo Verde beetle is a longhorn beetle found in North America. It received its name from the tendency of the larvae to feed on Palo Verde trees.
Size: 54-66 mm
Color: They are black or brown.
Other characteristic features: These beetles have long antennae and a spiny thorax. They also have strong jaws, but they are only used for courtship and defense.
The larvae range in color from a creamy white to a pale green and have a brown head. They live underground for up to 3 years.
After maturing, the larva begins to pupate.
Females burrow underground to lay eggs at the base of the host plant.
| Other Names | Palo verde root borer, Palo verde borer beetle |
| Lifespan | 1 month |
| Distribution | American Southwest, Northern Mexico |
| Habitat | Varied; suburban gardens and urban environments like campuses, cemeteries, and parks |
| Predators | Bobcats, coyotes, owls, and roadrunners |
| Host Plants | Palo Verde trees; also sometimes citrus, cottonweeds, mulberry, and Siberian elms |
| Seasons Active | Summer |
| Diet of Adults | Does not feed |
The larvae feed on the growing roots of the Palo Verde tree, causing the leaves to grow pale and die.
Image Source: lh4.ggpht.com, bugguide.net, bugguide.net, 2.bp.blogspot.com, live.staticflickr.com, bugguide.net, lh5.ggpht.com,
The Palo Verde beetle is a longhorn beetle found in North America. It received its name from the tendency of the larvae to feed on Palo Verde trees.
Size: 54-66 mm
Color: They are black or brown.
Other characteristic features: These beetles have long antennae and a spiny thorax. They also have strong jaws, but they are only used for courtship and defense.
The larvae range in color from a creamy white to a pale green and have a brown head. They live underground for up to 3 years.
After maturing, the larva begins to pupate.
Females burrow underground to lay eggs at the base of the host plant.
| Other Names | Palo verde root borer, Palo verde borer beetle |
| Lifespan | 1 month |
| Distribution | American Southwest, Northern Mexico |
| Habitat | Varied; suburban gardens and urban environments like campuses, cemeteries, and parks |
| Predators | Bobcats, coyotes, owls, and roadrunners |
| Host Plants | Palo Verde trees; also sometimes citrus, cottonweeds, mulberry, and Siberian elms |
| Seasons Active | Summer |
| Diet of Adults | Does not feed |
The larvae feed on the growing roots of the Palo Verde tree, causing the leaves to grow pale and die.
Image Source: lh4.ggpht.com, bugguide.net, bugguide.net, 2.bp.blogspot.com, live.staticflickr.com, bugguide.net, lh5.ggpht.com,
