Texas Brown-shouldered Bostrichid
Xylobiops texanus
This record describes Xylobiops texanus (species). Recorded family: Bostrichidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Forest Images - Dorsal elytra with distinct pubescence (except basally), the light and dark-brown areas not conspicuously separated , apical declivity of elytra sparsely, coarsely punctured; front of head usually with two median tubercles in both sexes . [emphasis added] Det. v belov, 2020
Wikipedia reference for Xylobiops texanus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylobiops_texanus.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Bostrichoidea
- Family
- Bostrichidae (Horned Powder-post Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Bostrichinae
- Tribe
- Xyloperthini
- Genus
- Xylobiops
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
n. TX to Mex. - Map
Diet and Behavior
Diet: reared from the following spp. of Fabaceae: mesquite ( Prosopis glandulosa (=juliflora )), huisache ( Vachellia (=Acacia) farnesiana ), Texas ebony ( Ebenopsis ebano (= Pithecellobium flexicaule )), and retama ( Parkinsonia aculeata )
Life History
Competes with various cerambycids for the small mesquite branches (Rogers 1977)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Xylobiops texanus (Horn)
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Xylobiops texanus. 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 Texas Brown-shouldered Bostrichid (10)
Photo credits: (c) Mike Quinn, San Marcos, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Mike Quinn, San Marcos | (c) Leif, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Leif | (c) Curtis Eckerman, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Curtis Eckerman | (c) Steven Wang, all rights reserved, uploaded by Steven Wang | (c) Victor Engel, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Victor Engel | (c) Joseph Connors, all rights reserved, uploaded by Joseph Connors | Contributed by Ed Riley; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Texas Brown-shouldered Bostrichid
What is Texas Brown-shouldered Bostrichid?
Texas Brown-shouldered Bostrichid (Xylobiops texanus) is a species in the family Bostrichidae, within the order Coleoptera.
How big is Texas Brown-shouldered Bostrichid?
3-5 mm
How do you identify Texas Brown-shouldered Bostrichid?
Forest Images - Dorsal elytra with distinct pubescence (except basally), the light and dark-brown areas not conspicuously separated , apical declivity of elytra sparsely, coarsely punctured; front of head usually with two median tubercles in both sexes . [emphasis added] Det. v belov, 2020
Where is Texas Brown-shouldered Bostrichid found?
Range: n. TX to Mex. - Map
What does Texas Brown-shouldered Bostrichid eat?
The diet of the Texas Brown-shouldered Bostrichid includes reared from the following spp. of Fabaceae: mesquite ( Prosopis glandulosa (=juliflora )), huisache ( Vachellia (=Acacia) farnesiana ), Texas ebony ( Ebenopsis ebano (= Pithecellobium flexicaule )), and retama ( Parkinsonia aculeata ).
What is the life cycle of a Texas Brown-shouldered Bostrichid?
Competes with various cerambycids for the small mesquite branches (Rogers 1977)