Invertebrates
See our handy guide to critters found in local homes and our Central Coast Butterfly FAQ. Browse the insects and other terrestrial arthropods we’ve identified. Check out local marine invertebrates, particularly bivalve mollusks and intertidal organisms.
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Tile Horned Prionus Beetle?
We found this beetle in our yard tonight on our swing. We looked it up and could not find anything close to what it seems to be, that is in California. (Tile horned prionus?) Any ideas!? Our kids are very curious!
Curator Response
Hi Cari,
Thanks for sharing this beetle. Based on what I can see, this appears to be a male Prionus californicus, the California Root Borer, which is abundant in the Santa Barbara area. Males have slightly more saw-toothed antennae than females. The Tile-Horned Prionus (Prionus imbricornis) is an eastern North American species, and they have a much greater number of antennal segments, from 16-20 in each antenna (only 12 in Prionus californicus).
Stay curious,
Schlinger Foundation Chair and Curatory of Entomology Matthew Gimmel, Ph.D.