About Placosternus difficilis (Chevrolat, 1862)
Placosternus difficilis, commonly called the mesquite borer, is a wood-boring longhorn beetle that looks similar to a black and yellow wasp. Female mesquite borer adults lay their eggs (which develop into larvae) in a variety of host trees, including mesquite, and the species is classified as polyphagous. This beetle is attracted to mesquite trees that have freshly cut or broken limbs and logs. Adult mesquite borers feed on nectar and pollen. This species has been recorded in the United States (ranging from California to Texas), Mexico, Honduras, Cuba, and the Bahamas.
