Orange-bracketed Longhorned Beetle
Crossidius discoideus
This record describes Crossidius discoideus (species). Recorded family: Cerambycidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Associated with composites in the genera Gutierrezia & Haplopappus ; larvae bore in the root crown while adults are found on the flowers and foliage. --T.C. MacRae
Wikipedia reference for Crossidius discoideus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossidius_discoideus.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Chrysomeloidea
- Family
- Cerambycidae (Longhorn Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Cerambycinae
- Tribe
- Trachyderini
- Genus
- Crossidius
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
w.NA (Great Basin, Rocky Mts., Mississippi Basin)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Crossidius discoideus (Say 1824)
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Crossidius discoideus. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Coleoptera is the largest order of insects with over 400,000 described species, representing ~25% of all known animal species and ~40% of all insects. In the U.S. alone, nearly 30,000 beetle species have been identified.
Ecological role of the group
Beetles are prominent decomposers, especially in forests, breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients. As predators, they reduce populations of pest insects. Many species are also important pollinators of flowering plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Beetles have major economic significance: leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) and weevils (Curculionoidea) are among the most destructive agricultural pests globally, costing billions annually, while predatory species like ladybugs provide natural pest control.
Recorded sources for this group: Britannica, Smithsonian, NCSU Entomology. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Orange-bracketed Longhorned Beetle (3)
Photo credits: (c) Erik Ostrum, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Erik Ostrum | (c) Corey Lange, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Corey Lange | Contributed by Phillip Harpootlian; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Mike Quinn , Aaron Schusteff , v belov