Prionus root borers are members of the Order Coleoptera, known as long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae).
Young larvae dig tunnels into the dirt in search of tree roots. Because of their cylindrical body form, the larvae are commonly referred to as round-headed borers.
The adult California prionus is a huge beetle that may grow 14 – 214 inches long (45-60 mm). Adults are reddish-brown in appearance, smooth and lustrous, and have long, deeply notched antennae.
The larvae may grow as long as 414 inches (108 mm) and as broad as 34 inches (18 mm) at their widest point.
Host plants:
Sweet cherry, peach, apricot, and other stone fruits, cottonwood, and other native/ornamental trees and bushes
Territory:
It is native to the American West, a common pest of orchard and vine crops.
Damage caused by Giant Root Borer:
The larvae of Prionus eat away at the crown and top roots of trees, leaving them prone to disease and deterioration. Sandy soils tend to encourage prionus infection due to quick irrigation percolation. Even for well-established trees, water loss from the soil profile combined with a diminished ability to absorb water can be substantial.
Life history and Habits:
All Prionus longhorned beetle types grow as root borers as larvae. Grassland species that grow at the grassroots include P. palparis, P. fissicornis, and P. emarginatus. P. integer is thought to be found amid rangeland plants like rabbitbrush and sage. P. californicus has the most diverse plant hosts (California prionus). Females use the extended ovipositor at the tip of their abdomen to deposit eggs in little groups a few millimeters below ground after mating. When the eggs hatch, the larvae move to plant roots and feed for 3 to 5 years before fully developing. Pupation occurs in a dirt chamber dug close to the roots.
