This specimen is a stout beetle of the family Bostrichidae. Bostrichidae has many common names, including "Branch and Twig Borers and Powderpost Beetles," "False Powderpost Beetles," and "Horned Powderpost Beetles." This family contains elongate, somewhat cylindrical beetles with bent-down heads, except for the subfamily Lyctinae. The adults bore into wood to deposit eggs, and the larvae remains in the wood for up to a year before it emerges as an adult. The subfamily Psoinae occurs primarily in the West, and includes the specimen below. They tend to reach lengths of 14-28mm, and are brown or black. Also, the Psoinae family differs from other Bostrichids by having a less bent head and large, strong mandibles.
Coleoptera; Polyphaga; Bostrichoidea; Bostrichidae; Polycaoninae/Psoinae; Polycaon stoutii
Common Name: Black Polycaon
Common Name: Black Polycaon
This species occurs mostly on the West Coast, and was probably named after Polycaon of Greek mythology, son of Lelex, king of Laconia, and the Naiad nymph Cleochareia. Polycaon supposedly went, with his wife Messene's aid and encouragement, to conquer a territory and then named it after his wife (Messenia).
