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Tag Archives: Longhorn beetles

A longhorn

23 Thursday Jun 2022

Posted by sconzani in insects

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Tags

British beetles, Cerambycidae, Longhorn beetles, longhorns, Rutpela maculata

As if it knew I was purposefully looking for insects to celebrate National Insect Week, this beetle, my first longhorn of the year, was sunning itself in a hedgerow as I passed by this morning. This is Rutpela maculata (no common name), one of the Cerambycidae and the only longhorn beetle I see regularly in my local area. The black-and-yellow colouration of these beetles varies quite a bit but they always look handsome.

220623 longhorn beetle

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205/365 Spotted longhorns

24 Wednesday Jul 2019

Posted by sconzani in 365DaysWildin2019, insects, nature

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

#365DaysWild, British beetles, Longhorn beetles, Rutpela maculata, Slade Wood, Spotted longhorn beetle

I thought I’d found a new variety of longhorn beetle when I spotted these creatures at Slade Wood on Monday but no. It turns out the yellow-and-black markings of Spotted longhorn beetles (Rutpela maculata) are quite changeable and these were just variations on a theme.

190724 spotted longhorn (1)

As their larvae inhabit rotten wood, the adult beetles can usually be found near woody areas, on hedgerows and along woodland rides, where they enjoy nectaring on umbellifer flowers.

190724 spotted longhorn (2)
190724 spotted longhorn (3)

I’ve just been reading that the adults only live for a few weeks between May and August so eyes peeled – you haven’t got long to spot these little stunners.

190724 spotted longhorn (4)

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The Spotted longhorns

17 Tuesday Jul 2018

Posted by sconzani in insects, nature

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Tags

British beetles, British insects, Longhorn beetles, longhorns, Rutpela maculata, Spotted longhorn beetle

I’ve been seeing quite a few of these handsome mini-beasties recently, the Spotted longhorn beetles (Rutpela maculata).

180717 Spotted longhorn beetle (1)

Though the pattern of their black-and-yellow markings can vary a bit, they’re really quite unmistakeable.

180717 Spotted longhorn beetle (2)

They’re large beetles and look quite fierce, but they’re harmless.

180717 Spotted longhorn beetle (3)
180717 Spotted longhorn beetle (4)

Spotted longhorns are most often found feasting on the pollen of the umbellifer and other flowers that grow in hedgerows and alongside woodland paths.

180717 Spotted longhorn beetle (5)

Their larvae overwinter in rotten wood, then emerge as adults in late Spring, so these lovely longhorns can be seen from May through till around the end of August.

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About me

sconzani

sconzani

I'm a writer and photographer; researcher and blogger; birder and nature lover; countryside rambler and city strider; volunteer and biodiversity recorder.

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