Tragidion deceptum
This record describes Tragidion deceptum (species). Recorded family: Cerambycidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Tragidion deceptum is a species of beetle in the Cerambycidae family. It was described by Swift & Ray in 2008. The adult is black with orange-yellow on the whole of the elytra except for the parts nearest the thorax. The insect is native to the southwest of the United States (Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas) and Mexico.
Identification notes
PARATYPE
Wikipedia reference for Tragidion deceptum: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragidion deceptum.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Chrysomeloidea
- Family
- Cerambycidae (Longhorn Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Cerambycinae
- Tribe
- Trachyderini
- Genus
- Tragidion
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
montane habitats, mostly on oozing desert broom ( Baccharis ) in lower elevations of Catalinas, Santa Ritas, etc. ( 3 )
Geographic Range
AZ to w.TX & Mex. - Map
Diet and Behavior
Diet: mines the heartwood of recently dead branches of oak ( Quercus ) ( 3 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Tragidion deceptum Swift & Ray 2008
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Tragidion deceptum. 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 Tragidion deceptum (8)
Photo credits: (c) C. Mallory, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by C. Mallory | (c) Mike Quinn, San Marcos, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Mike Quinn, San Marcos | (c) Chris McCreedy, all rights reserved, uploaded by Chris McCreedy | (c) Terry Lee Crane, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Terry Lee Crane | (c) Philippe Blais, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), uploaded by Philippe Blais | Contributed by margarethe brummermann; Additional contributions by Phillip Harpootlian , Mike Quinn , v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Tragidion deceptum
What is Tragidion deceptum?
Tragidion deceptum is a species in the family Cerambycidae, within the order Coleoptera.
How do you identify Tragidion deceptum?
PARATYPE
Where is Tragidion deceptum found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | montane habitats, mostly on oozing desert broom ( Baccharis ) in lower elevations of Catalinas, Santa Ritas, etc. ( 3 ) |
| Range | AZ to w.TX & Mex. - Map |
What does Tragidion deceptum eat?
The diet of the Tragidion deceptum includes mines the heartwood of recently dead branches of oak ( Quercus ) ( 3 ).