Categories

Large unknown beetle
Sun, Oct 19, 2008 at 9:25 AM
Hi Bugman,
About a month ago my girlfriend and I came across this guy hanging out on the side of our apartment building. What may not be readily apparent from the photo is the thing’s size; it was the largest insect I’ve ever met in person, about as long as a credit card.We found it at night, and it seemed to be cold and sluggish. We live in western Montana. After a little research, I suspect this may be a prionid. Any idea what that spike coming out of the abdomen is? Perhaps an ovipositor unsuccessfully trying to bore into a brick?
Matt,
Missoula, MT Western Montana

Ponderous Borer

Hi Matt,
You are correct about this being a Prionid. It looks like Ergates spiculatus, the Ponderous Borer, which has numerous additional common names, including Pine Sawyer, Western Pine Sawyer, Spined Woodborer, and Ponderosa Pine Borer.  Your specimen is a female and her ovipositor that resembles a stinger is visible

Related Posts

1. Ponderosa Pine Borer (July 10, 2008)
2. Ergates Sawyer (July 22, 2004)
3. Stout’s Hardwood Borer (July 15, 2005)
4. Ponderous Borer (July 19, 2009)
5. Ponderous Borer (August 1, 2009)