It's the time of year when we expect to see some longhorn beetles; there have been sightings for about the last month. A few nights ago I got around to taking some pictures. The scientific name for these creatures is Prionus californicus. The larvae burrow into and eat roots, especially those of oak trees (and they were considered, in turn, a delicacy by the local indigenous people, the Kawaiisu). Because of its destructive eating habits the insect has become a pest in some types of crops, including hops (which don't grow up here, but I thought I would mention it since hops, essential to the brewing of beer, are obviously a very important crop). If you startle the adults, such as the one above, they make a very loud and indignant chattering noise. (If my hand looks a bit stand-offish in the picture at the top, it is because it was. As befits a wood-boring creature, the California prionus has a generous set mandibles*.)
*And I am a chicken.
No comments:
Post a Comment