INJURIOUS AND BENEPICIAI, INSECTS OF CALIFORNIA. 



251 



CERAMBYCID^E (Family) 



LONG-HORNED BEETLES OR CERAMBYCIDS 



This is a large family of very familiar beetles characterized by the 

 elongated bodies and the slender antenna' which are often longer than 

 the body. The tarsi are four- jointed. The larva' are wood borers, as 



Fig. 240.- — -The California laurel borer, Rosalia funcbris Mots., 

 a light blue and black long-horned beetle common throughout the 

 state. The larva? live in the California laurel. Enlarged twice. 

 (Original) 



are also many of the adults. The members are generally very destruc- 

 tive and, though primarily forest pests, often do much damage to 

 orchard and ornamental trees. 



THE CALIFORNIA PRIONUS 

 Prionua califomicus Motschulsky 1 " 



(Fig. 241) 



Description.— The beetles are dark brown and quite large, varying 

 from 1 to 1| inches in length. There are several large, sharp teeth 

 or spines on the lateral margins of the prothorax. The antenna? are 

 twelve-jointed. The larvre are exceedingly large, often attaining a 

 length of 2| inches. They are white or yellowish, with a small reddish 

 or dark brown head. 



Life History. — The complete habits of this species are very imper- 

 fectly known. The adults do not appear until July and August, the 

 winter being spent in the larval stage. The larvre begin to appear in 

 the fall and work in the trunks and roots of the trees, often doing 

 considerable damage. The running sap usually serves as a means of 



161 The broad-necked borer, Prionus laticollis Drury, included in the first edition, does 

 not occur in this State according to Prof. H. C. Fall and Dr. E. C. Van Dyke. All 

 references to it in California probably refer to the California Prionus. 



