Derobrachus hovorei
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%
Derobrachus hovorei is a species of beetle in the family Cerambycidae, known variously as the palo verde beetle, palo verde root borer, or palo verde borer beetle. For over 100 years, this species was confused with the related species Derobrachus geminatus, and only recognized and given its own name by Santos-Silva in 2007; essentially all literature prior to 2007 therefore incorrectly uses the name geminatus for this species. It is a longhorn beetle native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico which derives its common name from the palo verde tree, and it is one of the largest beetles in North America, reaching up to 3-1/2 inches in length. Adults are black or brown in color, have long antennae, and spines on the thorax. They have wings and can fly, albeit awkwardly at times. Mature beetles emerge in the summer to mate. While not harmful to humans, they can bite in self-defense.
Derobrachus hovorei hatches from eggs into grubs, which live underground for as long as three years; as a result, the huge grubs can be uncovered by gardeners doing routine yard maintenance, especially in flower beds surrounding lawns that contain susceptible trees. The larvae are cream colored to pale green, typically with a brown head, and feed on the roots of trees, causing branches to die back. In the wild, the most commonly affected tree is the palo verde, although wild specimens of other Parkinsonia species (P. florida, P. microphylla, and P. sonorae among the most common) are attacked, as well. In urban areas (such as parks, college campuses, cemeteries and the like) where species of Parkinsonia are not often found, D. hovorei can feed on the roots of a variety of trees, including the Siberian elm, white and fruitless mulberry, various cottonwoods, and in the warmest desert areas, citrus. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joshua Tree National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Saguaro National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Palo Verde Root Borer sighting in Las Vegas on a given day, based on 10 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 63rd most-seen of the 111 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.
July
In that month about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Palo Verde Root Borer in Las Vegas on a given day, against under 5% in October to June, the lowest months.
Between 6 and 9 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Palo Verde Root Borer sightings with a recorded time, and about 7 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is mostly seen at night.
Among the best
Of the 3 cities where we can rate Palo Verde Root Borer sightings, Las Vegas ranks 3rd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Mesa (United States, about 10%) and Phoenix (United States, about 10%).
Same order: Coleoptera
The closest relatives of the Palo Verde Root Borer that you can see in Las Vegas (order Coleoptera, Beetles) are Seven-Spotted Lady Beetle (about 10%), Figeater Beetle (about 10%) and Ashy Gray Lady Beetle (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Palo Verde Root Borer is recorded against all the insects logged in Las Vegas (10 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
