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Longicorn ID: Tool for Diagnosing Cerambycidae Subfamilies and Tribes
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Prionini

Classification Introduction
  • The tribe Prionini Latreille, 1802 currently contains ~180 species in ~29 genera. Photographs of 12 exemplar specimens are currently available for this tribe.
Diagnostic Features of Adults
  • Eyes emarginate, moderately strongly granulate, not involving the insertion of antennae below. Antennae longer in males than in female; antennomere III longer than the others, but never much. Ligula moderately large and bilobed. Lateral edge of prothorax not crenulate, with three projections or three teeth on each side. Procoxal cavities opened behind. Metepisterna with edges parallel, truncate at apex. Legs without spines; hind tibiae with two spurs; male rarely with sexual punctation; first anal vein of membranous wings with a cell in its path (Lameere, 1919).
Diagnostic Features of Larvae
  • Larva. Form robust, subcylindrical and tapering posteriorly. Head usually slightly transverse but slightly elongate in certain tropical species; widest behind middle; dorsal margins of epicranial halves fused behind frons but sometimes separating near the base; tentorial cross-arm in same plane as hypostoma, forming a bridge behind it, which divides the occipital foramen into an anterior and posterior portion. Front margin of frons nearly always abruptly sloping, very strongly sclerotized, its lower boundary projecting over clypeus (except Megopis, in part), its upper boundary dentate or carinate (except Indian genera Macrotoma, Sarmydus); six epistomal setae present. Clypeus thick, trapezoidal, as wide at base as epistoma. Labrum thick and lanceolate, cordate, transversely elliptical or orbicular. Mandibles wedge-shaped, cutting edge broadly emarginate; apex produced, acute. Ocelli present or absent. Antenna two- or three-segmented, conical, partially retractile; second segment barrel-shaped or cylindrical, obliquely truncate, hollowed at the tip, and often bearing a small third segment. Subfossal process and postcondylar carina present. Ventral mouthparts attached to hypostoma by slightly more than width of gula. Maxillae movable; cardo distinct; palpifer with outer margin rounded; lobe borne on stipes; maxillary palpi short, conical, robust, three-segmented, the last segment relatively short and cylindrical, blunt or conical, the tip being truncate and bearing a sensory impression. Ligula large, fleshy and densely covered with short stout setae. Prothorax with eusternum partially or entirely and lateral zone distinct. Abdomen with dorsal ampullae with two transverse impressions; ventral ampullae with one. Epipleura protuberant only on last three segments; ninth segment large, elongate, extended. Legs distinct, stout, conical; unguiculus imbricately spinose. Spiracles of mesothorax protruding into prothorax; abdominal spiracles with small marginal chambers occasionally present. Adapted from Duffy (1953).
Geographic Distribution of Tribe Biology and Economic Importance
  • Biology and economic importance for this taxon coming soon.
Selected References to Adult Specimens
Selected References to Larvae Specimens



Apterocaulus heterogama
(Burmeister, 1879); dorsal
♂ specimen
Cerambycidae:Prioninae:Prionini
Photograph © N.P. Lord




Apterocaulus heterogama
(Burmeister, 1879); head
♂ specimen
Cerambycidae:Prioninae:Prionini
Photograph © N.P. Lord



Apterocaulus heterogama
(Burmeister, 1879); lateral
♂ specimen
Cerambycidae:Prioninae:Prionini
Photograph © N.P. Lord


All Prionini exemplar species images
 

idtools.org     Longicorn ID images on Bugwood ITP Node
Longicorn ID last updated 2020  E.H. Nearns, N.P. Lord, S.W. Lingafelter, A. Santos-Silva, K.B. Miller, & J.M. Zaspel