P. laticollis adults can range in size from two to about five centimeters (Bugguide). P. laticollis larvae are known to feed on apple tree roots and other fruit tree roots, while the adults emerge in the summertime (peaking in mid-July) to mate and live for about one week. In addition, both larvae and adults typically feed at night (Benham and Farrar 1976). Even though populations of this beetle do not usually reach high amounts compared to other pest species, each year P. laticollis larvae have the capacity to cause damage to apple trees in the state of New York (Agnello et al. 2011).
P. laticollis should also not be confused with another similar looking Cerambycid, the Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB), which is a major pest of many different hardwood trees. The ALB can be distinguished from P. laticollis in that the ALB has white spots across its elytra, the wing coverings of beetles, and P. laticollis lacks these white spots. P. laticollis adult females also lay their eggs under the soil, using a very conspicuous ovipositor, an egg laying organ typically seen in wasps. Newly hatched larvae can then burrow many centimeters underground (Benham and Farrar 1976). |
Story of my encounter with P. laticollis at CornellJust as Darwin was thrilled to hear of rare beetles being captured, I was so excited when I accidentally stumbled across this magnificent beetle pictured above. It was late August of 2017 and I decided to go out for a walk near the lake Beebe trail on the Cornell University campus to collect insects. As I was walking, I would sometimes glance at the ground on either side of the trail. In one moment, a huge, dark object caught my eye. When I took a closer look, I was amazed that such a large Cerambycid beetle could be found in New York. Even though this beetle seems to be commonly found across the Eastern U.S, It was the first time in my life that I came across such a beetle, a rare sight in my eyes.
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