Larva Identification Request - SE Texas

[rook]

Found in a rotting cedar tree in Plantersville Texas (about 40 miles north of Houston)

2-3 Inches long

[trehopr1]

This looks to me like a roundheaded borer (larvae) of an unidentified Longhorn beetle species (Cerambycidae).

I think our forum member bandrow can back me up on this quick I.D. (to family) however,
I have no idea to what species it may belong.

[Crake]

I second that. 

[livingplanet3]

Yes, definitely a cerambycid larva.

[rook]

Wow! Thanks for that quick reply. Out of curiosity, do all long horn beetle larvae look similar and that is why you were able to identify the family but not the species? Is there any thing I can look for that would help pin it down?

I am clearing some land and have some cedars that I would like to keep but there are quite a few of these white things around and I am worried they might be invasive.

[Crake]

Jan 29, 2021 18:49:20 GMT -8 rook said:

Wow! Thanks for that quick reply. Out of curiosity, do all long horn beetle larvae look similar and that is why you were able to identify the family but not the species? Is there any thing I can look for that would help pin it down?

I am clearing some land and have some cedars that I would like to keep but there are quite a few of these white things around and I am worried they might be invasive.

I noticed a resemblance between your example and some Asian longhorn beetles/larvae that I found a few years ago, though I think we could eliminate that species as a candidate since there are few reports of it having reached Texas.

[rook]

Thank you once again. After googling "cerambycid" I can see that it might be a bit naive to expect something specific. Now I am eager to see what it becomes.

[livingplanet3]

Jan 29, 2021 18:53:33 GMT -8 Crake said:

Jan 29, 2021 18:49:20 GMT -8 rook said:

Wow! Thanks for that quick reply. Out of curiosity, do all long horn beetle larvae look similar and that is why you were able to identify the family but not the species? Is there any thing I can look for that would help pin it down?

I am clearing some land and have some cedars that I would like to keep but there are quite a few of these white things around and I am worried they might be invasive.

I noticed a resemblance between your example and some Asian longhorn beetles/larvae that I found a few years ago, though I think we could eliminate that species as a candidate since there are few reports of it having reached Texas.

Do you mean Anoplophora glabripennis? I've not heard of this species being found in TX. It's my understanding that it's primarily become established in parts of the Northeast / Lower Midwest?

[kevinkk]

Jan 29, 2021 19:06:13 GMT -8 rook said:

Thank you once again. After googling "cerambycid" I can see that it might be a bit naive to expect something specific. Now I am eager to see what it becomes.

Not many people raise cerambycidae, but you can. I'd take the piece that has the grub(s) and cut it into a manageable chunk and let it continue it's normal
life cycle, which depending on species could be a year or more. You could make a sleeve out of window screen, tie it around the chunk and wait.
There is a beetle forum where more people raise beetles, coincidentally, it's called-beetleforum.net.
Maybe someone there has better rearing information.
I remember chopping wood and finding very large pine sawyer grubs, they ended up bird food though.

[Crake]

Jan 29, 2021 19:26:34 GMT -8 livingplanet3 said:

Jan 29, 2021 18:53:33 GMT -8 Crake said:

I noticed a resemblance between your example and some Asian longhorn beetles/larvae that I found a few years ago, though I think we could eliminate that species as a candidate since there are few reports of it having reached Texas.

Do you mean Anoplophora glabripennis? I've not heard of this species being found in TX. It's my understanding that it's primarily become established in parts of the Northeast / Lower Midwest?

I did. They've taken a foothold in the west too. The ones I found were located in Squaw Valley, CA.

[livingplanet3]

Jan 29, 2021 19:32:26 GMT -8 Crake said:

Jan 29, 2021 19:26:34 GMT -8 livingplanet3 said:

Do you mean Anoplophora glabripennis? I've not heard of this species being found in TX. It's my understanding that it's primarily become established in parts of the Northeast / Lower Midwest?

I did. They've taken a foothold in the west too. The ones I found were located in Squaw Valley, CA.

I wasn't aware that the species had reached that far. Like most Anoplophora, it's a beautiful beetle; unfortunate that it also happens to be invasive.

[livingplanet3]

Jan 29, 2021 19:26:52 GMT -8 kevinkk said:

Jan 29, 2021 19:06:13 GMT -8 rook said:

Thank you once again. After googling "cerambycid" I can see that it might be a bit naive to expect something specific. Now I am eager to see what it becomes.

Not many people raise cerambycidae, but you can. I'd take the piece that has the grub(s) and cut it into a manageable chunk and let it continue it's normal
life cycle, which depending on species could be a year or more. You could make a sleeve out of window screen, tie it around the chunk and wait.
There is a beetle forum where more people raise beetles, coincidentally, it's called-beetleforum.net.
Maybe someone there has better rearing information.
I remember chopping wood and finding very large pine sawyer grubs, they ended up bird food though.

I've heard that at least a few people have been able to rear Acrocinus longimanus (surely one of the most famous Neotropical beetles) in captivity.

[kevinkk]

I've read that as well, they're depicted in Mcmonigles's guide to rearing beetles.

[rook]

I don't have plans to rear it. I did set the 2ft chunk off to the side for now. I might put some screening around it.

My ignorance is showing again. I was going to wait until spring and see what happens. With a one or more year wait, this little guy might out last my curiosity.

Thanks all once again.

[kevinkk]

Beetles take time, more than lepidoptera do, it does take patience.