Texas Beetle Information

Return to Texas Entomology - Compiled by Mike Quinn


Gigas Longhorn Beetle

Stenelytrana gigas (LeConte, 1873)

Family Cerambycidae, Subfamily Lepturinae, Tribe Lepturini


 

Stenelytrana gigas (LeConte, 1873)

(at banana bait)

Zilker Botanical Garden
Austin, Travis County, Texas
June 26, 2007 (Scott Young)


Range: From extreme west TX mountains to north central TX, to the Rio Grande Valley; south to Chihuahua, Mexico.

Adult Activity: April to August in south Texas, May to July in north-central Texas.

Larval Hosts: Hardwoods like willow, oak or hackberry.

Biology: Common at sugar traps. Adults are strong and agile fliers.

In north-central Texas, Lingafelter and Horner (1993) reported approximately 30 specimens congregated at a tree (species undetermined) which was producing much sap and had attracted many other insects.

Similar Species: There are four species of Stenelytrana, three reach the United States.

Stenelytrana emarginata (Fabricius) 1787 - eastern USA 
Stenelytrana gigas (LeConte) 1873 - TX; Chihuahua, Mexico 
Stenelytrana splendens (Knull) 1935 - AZ

All specimens examined by Lingafelter and Horner (1993) in north-central Texas were assigned to gigas, however many specimens shared characteristics specific to emarginata

SynonymLeptura (Stenura) gigas

Etymology: Stenelytrana gigas 

sten, -o (G). Narrow
elytr, -o, =um (G). A sheath, cover
giga (G). Giant, very large


References:

Arnett, R.H., Jr., M.C. Thomas, P.E. Skelley & J.H. Frank. (editors). 2002. American Beetles, Volume II: Polyphaga: Scarabaeoidea through Curculionoidea. CRC Press. 861 pp.

Borror, D.J. 1960. Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms. National Press Books, Palo Alto. v + 134 pp.

Hovore, F.T. 1983. Taxonomic and biological observations on southwestern Cerambycidae. Coleopterists Bulletin, 37(4): 379 - 387.

Hovore, F.T., R.L. Penrose & R.W. Neck. 1987. The Cerambycidae, or longhorned beetles, of southern Texas: a faunal survey (Coleoptera). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, 44(13): 283-334, 20 figs.

Lingafelter, S.W. & N.V. Horner. 1993. The Cerambycidae of north-central Texas. The Coleopterists Bulletin, 47(2): 159-191.

Linsley E.G. & J.A. Chemsak. 1976. Cerambycidae of North America. Part VI. No. 2: Taxonomy and classification of the subfamily Lepturinae. University of California Publications in Entomology 80: 1-186.

Monné, M.A. & F.T. Hovore. 2005. Checklist of the Cerambycidae, or longhorned woodboring beetles, of the Western Hemisphere. 392 pp.


01 Dec 2008  © Mike Quinn / Texas Entomology / Texas Beetle Information