Insects and Spiders - native

Ponderous Borer (Trichocnemis spiculatus) on Jul 24, 2026

Description of specimen

Submitter has sample

A large brown beetle stick on it's back about 2 inches long with a stinger and large mandibles. It's unable to flip itself over

Commentary

Avatar of commenter Thank you for your report! This is the "Ponderous borer", Oregon's largest beetle! They are not pests. Their grubs live in dead conifer stumps and logs.

Tom Valente
July 24, 2026, 11:38 a.m.

Location

It what's on my stone steps when I came outside I'm very wooded area there's large pine trees , Douglas fir and madrone and Ash trees surrounding my property Amazon Creek sits on one edge of my property. I live on Shasta view Street in the closest road to it is sunridge drive

Expert Reviewer

Avatar of Reviewer

Tom Valente
Oregon Department of Agriculture

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