Moneilema

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Protostomia
Cladus: Ecdysozoa
Cladus: Panarthropoda
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Classis: Insecta
Cladus: Dicondylia
Subclassis: Pterygota
Cladus: Metapterygota
Infraclassis: Neoptera
Cladus: Eumetabola
Cladus: Endopterygota
Superordo: Coleopterida
Ordo: Coleoptera
Subordo: Polyphaga
Infraordo: Cucujiformia
Cladus: Phytophaga
Superfamilia: Chrysomeloidea

Familia: Cerambycidae
Subfamilia: Lamiinae
Tribus: Moneilemini
Genus: Moneilema
Subgenus: M. (Collapteryx) – M. (Moneilema)
Overview species

M. albopictum – M. annulatum – M. appressum – M. armatum – M. aterrimum – M. blapsides – M. blapsides – M. crassipes – M. ebeninum – M. gigas – M. longipes – M. manni – M. mexicanum – M. michelbacheri – M. opuntiae – M. punctipennis – M. rugosipennis – M. rugosissimum – M. semipunctatum – M. subrugosum – M. variolare – M. wickhami
Name

Moneilema Say, 1824: 403

Type species: Moneilema annulata Say, 1824

Synonymy

Collapteryx Newman
Monoplesa Motschulsky
Omoscylon Thomson

References
Primary references

Say, T. 1824. Descriptions of Coleopterous Insects collected in the late Expedition to the Rocky Mountains, performed by order of Mr. Calhoun, Secretary of War, under the command of Major Long. Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 3[1823] (2): 403–462. BHL. [original description: p. 403]

Additional references

Fisher, W.S. 1928a. New Cactus beetles. II. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 30: 1–7. full article BHL. Reference page.

Links

Cactus Longhorn Beetle Page at Friends of Saguaro National Park

Moneilema, or cactus longhorn beetles are a genus of large, flightless, black beetles found in North American deserts of the western United States and northern Mexico. M. gigas is native to the Sonoran desert at elevations below 4900 feet (1500m).[1] The front wings of these beetles are fused forming a single, hardened shell, from which the genus derives its Latin name. The genus includes twenty species.[2]

Longhorn cactus beetles feed on chollas and prickly pear cacti, and are known to feed on saguaro seedlings. Larvae bore into cactus roots and stems, sometimes killing more susceptible individuals. Adults also feed on the surface of cacti.[3]

Most Moneilema species are active during mid or late summer - the adults typically emerging during the summer monsoon season. Some Moneilema species in central and southern Mexico are reported to be active all year.

Like many flightless beetles, these beetles have limited wing musculature with a rounded abdomen and thorax, similar in appearance to a number of other flightless desert beetles. Cactus longhorn beetles resemble and mimic the behavior of noxious stink beetles in the genus Eleodes.[4]
Species

The genus includes 20 species:[2]

Moneilema albopictum (White, 1856)
Moneilema annulatum (Say, 1824)
Moneilema appressum (LeConte, 1852)
Moneilema armatum (LeConte, 1853)
Moneilema aterrimum (Fisher, 1931)
Moneilema blapsides (Newman, 1838)
Moneilema crassipes (Fisher, 1931)
Moneilema ebeninum (Bates, 1885)
Moneilema gigas (LeConte, 1873)
Moneilema longipes (White, 1856)
Moneilema manni (Psota, 1930)
Moneilema mexicanum (Fisher, 1926)
Moneilema michelbacheri (Linsley, 1942)
Moneilema opuntiae (Fisher, 1928)
Moneilema punctipennis (Fisher, 1926)
Moneilema rugosissimum (Casey, 1924)
Moneilema semipunctatum (LeConte, 1852)
Moneilema subrugosum (Bland, 1862)
Moneilema variolare (Thomson, 1867)
Moneilema wickhami (Psota, 1930)

References

"Historical Biogeography of Longhorn Cactus Beetles" (PDF). Forest Service Proceedings. USDA. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
"Moneilemini". Cerambycidae of the New World. Larry Bezark. Archived from the original on 2010-05-27. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
"Cactus Longhorn Beetle". Museum of Learning. Discovery Media. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
"Beetles". Invertebrates. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Retrieved 2010-11-24.