''Moneilema semipunctatum'' is a species of

beetle Beetles are insects that form the Taxonomic rank, order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Holometabola. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 40 ...

in the family

Cerambycidae The longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae), also known as long-horned or longicorns (whose larvae are often referred to as roundheaded borers), are a large family of beetles, with over 35,000 species described. Most species are characterized by anten ...

.''Moneilema semipunctatum''.
Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). It was described by

John Lawrence LeConte John Lawrence LeConte MD (May 13, 1825 – November 15, 1883) was an American entomology, entomologist, responsible for naming and describing approximately half of the insect taxon, taxa known in the United States during his lifetime,

in 1852. It is known commonly as the cactus borer beetle. Beetles of genus ''Moneilema'' are known commonly as cactus longhorn beetles.''Moneilema semipunctatum''.
Invasive Species Compendium. CABI. It is native to North America, where it occurs in the western United States and Mexico. This species is variable in morphology. It is wingless and black in color, and is usually convex and elongated in shape, shiny to dull, hairless, and textured with puncture-like marks. The female is 1.5 to 3 centimeters long and the male 1.5 to 2.6 centimeters. This beetle lives in desert habitat, where it feeds on

cactus A cactus (: cacti, cactuses, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae (), a family of the order Caryophyllales comprising about 127 genera with some 1,750 known species. The word ''cactus'' derives, through Latin, ...

plants, especially species of prickly pear (''Opuntia'') and cholla (''Cylindropuntia''). The beetle is a threat to several rare species of cactus, including the Mojave fishhook cactus (''Sclerocactus polyancistrus''), Wright's fishhook cactus (''Sclerocactus wrightiae''), Mesa Verde cactus (''Sclerocactus mesae-verdae''), Winkler's pincushion cactus (''Pediocactus winkleri''), and San Rafael cactus (''Pediocactus despainii''). The adult beetle is nocturnal or

crepuscular In zoology, a crepuscular animal is one that is active primarily during the twilight period, being matutinal (active during dawn), vespertine (biology), vespertine/vespertinal (active during dusk), or both. This is distinguished from diurnalit ...

. It emerges and climbs cactus plants at dusk to feed during the night. It mates during the night and the female deposits eggs near the base of the cactus. The

larva A larva (; : larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into their next life stage. Animals with indirect development such as insects, some arachnids, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase ...

feeds on the plant, burrowing into it and causing damage.

References

Moneilemini Beetles described in 1852 Wingless beetles Taxa named by John Lawrence LeConte Beetles of North America {{Lamiinae-stub