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Tag Archives: Rutpela maculata

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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181/366 Spot the beetle

29 Monday Jun 2020

Posted by sconzani in insects, nature, wildflowers

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

beetle, British beetles, Rutpela maculata, Spotted longhorn beetle, umbellifer flowers, umbellifers

This Spotted longhorn (Rutpela maculata) was happily minding its own business, feeding on the umbellifer flowers growing along the edge of a woodland ride, as is its wont, when …

200629 spotted longhorn (1)

Incoming!

200629 spotted longhorn (2)

And so the necessity of life as a beetle takes over, the need to reproduce, to continue the species. Lunch might have to wait.

200629 spotted longhorn (3)

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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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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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The Spotted longhorn beetle

25 Thursday Aug 2016

Posted by sconzani in insects, nature

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Black and Yellow longhorn beetle, Longhorn beetle, Rutpela maculata, Spotted longhorn beetle

Let me introduce you to Rutpela maculata. It’s called a longhorn beetle, but really I would say it has long antennae rather than long horns, and its common name is the Spotted longhorn, but really it has spots and stripes, so its other common name of Black and Yellow longhorn seems more appropriate. Its colours and patterns roughly mimic those of wasps which, in theory, gives it protection from predators like birds.

160825 Longhorn beetle (1)

I was a little surprised, and somewhat saddened, to learn that the adult beetles have a very short life, of just two to four weeks, but this is actually quite common amongst insects. Most spend the majority of their lives as larvae.

160825 Longhorn beetle (2)
160825 Longhorn beetle (3)
160825 Longhorn beetle (4)

The adult longhorn beetles grow to between 13 and 20mm long, and can be seen any time from May to August, frequenting hedgerows and the edges of woodland trails, often enjoying a feed of pollen or nectar on umbellifers. I’ve only seen two so far, both pictured here, and you can see that the markings and colouration vary from beetle to beetle.

160825 Longhorn beetle (5)

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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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