Neoptychodes trilineatus Classification Family Cerambycidae > Subfamily Lamiinae > Tribe Monochamini > Genus Neoptychodes Diagnostic Features of Larvae Larva. Form large, elongate; integument firm, shining, beset with rather stiff brownish hairs. Head depressed, about one and one-half times as long as wide, sides gradually tapering behind; mouth-frame heavily chitinized; epistoma straight, abruptly raised; labrum roundly rectangular, about one and one-half times as wide as long, anterior half densely hairy ; mandible about twice as long as basal width, dull, black, cutting-edge obliquely emarginate; antennal ring entire; one pair of distinct ocelli. Ventral mouth-parts somewhat chitinized, palpi slender, each maxillary palpal joint successively longer from base outward, last shorter than last labial, one-half length of first labial; ligula cylindrical, prominent; lacinia cylindrical, fleshy; mentum not distinctly defined; hypostoma heavily chitinized; gula protuberant. Prothorax rectangular, depressed; pronotum defined posteriorly by lateral impressions, anteriorly light yellowish, shining, with an anterior border of hairs, posteriorly densely velvety pubescent, spotted with minute lenticular glabrous spots; sternum anteriorly hairy, laterally yellowish, chitinized; eusternum shining, sparsely haired. Mesonotum anteriorly velvety pubescent, posteriorly shining; metanotum, mesosternum, and metasternum tuberculate. Legless. Abdomen having seven pairs of well-developed ampullae, these transversely oval, bearing dorsally four irregular rows of shining tubercles, ventrally two. Epipleurum distinctly protuberant on all segments, tubercle rectangularly oval, bearing four to five setae, no chitinous pores. Spiracles large, oval, chitinous rimmed. Anus transverse, two-lobed, the lower one bearing beneath a group of five to eight short, acutely subulate setae or spines. Adapted from Craighead (1923). Biology and Economic Importance The larva feeds in living branches and trunks of Ficus, Alnus, and Morus often killing the trees. The work and habits resemble those of Goes. It occurs along the Gulf States into the southwestern United States and Mexico. Adapted from Craighead (1923). Selected References to Larvae Specimens Craighead, 1923