California Prionus Necked Root Borer (Prionus laticollis)Latin Name: Prionus laticollis
Common Name: California Prionus or Necked Root Borer
Appearance:
The broad-necked borer (Prionus laticollis), a member of the Cerambycidae (long-horned beetle family), may cause significant damage, particularly to fruit trees such as peach, pear, cherry, and apple. They’ve also been known to wreak havoc on grapevines and blueberry plants. The California root borer (Prionus californicus) is occasionally confused with the broad-necked root borer.
The broad-necked root borer has a blackish to the reddish-brown body that is broad and semi-flattened and antennae that are half the length of its body. Each antenna may contain up to 12 antennal segments. Their bodies can grow to be 1 3/4 inches long.
Males have been seen to fly, but females have not. They are generally nocturnal and only come out to eat in the late evening and at night. They normally remain hidden during the day. Males are drawn to light.
Territory:
They can also be seen around fruit trees and grapevines. Their distribution extends from Quebec and Ontario to Minnesota and Oklahoma farther south. Some reports have come from as far south as Florida.
Damage caused by or Necked Root Borer:
Because the broad-necked root borer solely feeds on tree roots, the only obvious signs are limb die-off and yellowing and thinning of foliage. Borers may kill young trees and make older trees more vulnerable to wind damage. Infected elder trees may only have one or two roots supporting them. The easiest technique to confirm the borer’s existence is uprooting the entire tree. Examining the crown and roots reveals extensive honeycombing.
Life history and Habits:
The broad-necked root borer has a life cycle of around three years. The necked root bore female lays up to 100 eggs in clusters beneath litter or on the ground. The elongated golden eggs are around 1/8 inch long and have irregular punctures on the surface. Broad-necked Root Borers are most active in the summer and can be seen crawling on logs or the forest floor. They feed on trees as they develop, devouring the inner bark and tissue for years before emerging as adults in the summer. The Broad-necked Root Beetle may be found in woodlands and forests, but it has also been spotted crossing parking lots between habitats. If this variety of beetle has built a home near a structure, it is drawn to lights at night and proclivity to smash windows reflecting light with a loud boom.
