prionid beetle

The term "prionid beetle" refers to a beetle belonging to the family Prionidae. These are typically large, brown, or black beetles characterized by a prothorax that extends outward with a toothed margin. Their larvae burrow into the roots or wood of plants.12

Prionid beetles are a subfamily within the larger family of long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae), which includes about 36,000 species worldwide. Many long-horned beetles are known for their exceptionally long antennae. Their wood-boring larvae can cause significant damage to timber, landscape trees, and fruit trees. The larvae of long-horned beetles, often called roundheaded borers, feed within woody plants for one to two years before pupating and emerging as adults.3