Longhorn beetles


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beetles:     Ground beetles (Carabidae)      Leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae)      Snout beetles, weevils      Longhorn beetles, similar to longhorn beetles      Ladybirds, Ladybugs, Coccinellidae      Rove beetles (Staphylinidae)      Small  beetles           


To the Dutch website / Naar de Nederlandse website.Nederlands / Dutch

                               

Longhornbeetles in the garden   

Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae). There are more than 20000 species on the world. In the Netherlands it’s a lot less.
Several larvae are boring into wood. Several species can cause extensive damage to either living trees or to wood in buildings (the old house borer Hylotrupes bajulus ).
The
Longhorn beetles feed on flowers, pollen and leaves. They have long antennae.

Timberman beetle (Acanthocinus aedilis). Family Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae)... Timberman beetle (Acanthocinus aedilis). Family Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae).. Timberman beetle (Acanthocinus aedilis). Family Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae).  Timberman beetle (Acanthocinus aedilis). Family Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae). Not in the garden, but in the dunes about 4 km from our house. Rare in the Nederlands!!

It looks small in the picture, but otherwise the antennas did not fit in the picture. They are very long. The antennae of the female are about twice the body length, of the male much longer. The elytra are grey. On the pronotum are four yellow-orange bumps. (showing on the pictures) The female has an ovipositor, which protrudes. This is a male. In the photo it sits on the stump of a logged pine. There they are found more often. They feed on bark and needles of pine. The larva of the timber beetle feeds on dead pine wood, which is not rotten. 
April - May and August - September. (Here in March) The adult beetle overwinters.
Length 12 - 20 mm Europe, East-Asia. Photos 13-3-2014.  
German: Zimmermannsbock, Zimmer(er)bock, Schneiderbock.  French: Acanthocine charpentier.
Timberman beetle (Acanthocinus aedilis). Family Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae). Timberman beetle (Acanthocinus aedilis). Family Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae). Here male and female Photos 16-3-2014.  
  

Golden-bloomed grey longhorn beetle (Agapanthia villosoviridescens). Family Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae).    Golden-bloomed grey longhorn beetle (Agapanthia villosoviridescens). Family Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae). Not in the garden, but in the dunes about 4 km from our house

A dark head and thorax with three longitudinal stripes. Antennas with black and white rings. A brownish-yellow finely marbled elytra.
Beetle larvae can be found in the stems of many different types of plants. Longhorn beetles prefer thistles.
May-July. Length 10-22 mm. Europe, Caucasus, Kazakhstan, the Near East, Russia and Turkey. Photo 12-6-2020.
  

Wasp beetle (Clytus arietis). Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae)... Wasp beetle (Clytus arietis). Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae).. Wasp beetle (Clytus arietis). Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae).  Wasp beetle (Clytus arietis). Family Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae).

It looks (colours) and acts like a wasp (movements, restless with the antennas, etc.)
This beetle I had liberated from a spider web in the scullery.
Size 10 to15 mm. May - July. It feeds on nectar and pollen. The larva lives in dead wood of foliage trees. Especially on the beech.
Europe, Asia Minor and Russia. Photos 4-6-2008, 27-5-2013. German: Gemeiner, Echter Widderbock. French: Clyte bélier.

Wasp beetle (Clytus arietis). Family Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae). Male and female 31-5-2014.  
  

Stictoleptura rubra. Synonym: Corymbia rubra and Leptura rubra. Male. Family Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae)... Stictoleptura rubra. Synonym: Corymbia rubra and Leptura rubra. Male. Family Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae).. Stictoleptura rubra. Synonym: Corymbia rubra and Leptura rubra. Male. Family Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae).  Stictoleptura rubra. Synonym: Corymbia rubra and Leptura rubra. Family Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae).

The males have yellowish-brown (sometimes very light) wing covers. The torax is black. The females (photographs below) have  red wing covers. The torax is red too and it is larger. 
The larvae of this beetle live for several years in dead wood of pine and fir trees,
Length :10-20 mm. May - September.
Native in Europe, North Africa, and Asia. Photos 7-8-2012, 18-8-2012, 31-7-2010. 
German: Rothalsbock, Gemeiner Bockkäfer.  French: Lepture rouge.
Stictoleptura rubra. Synonym: Corymbia rubra and Leptura rubra. Female. Family Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae). Stictoleptura rubra. Synonym: Corymbia rubra and Leptura rubra. Female. Family Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae). Corymbia rubra female. Photos 13-8-2012.  
  
Gewone Bloesemboktor (Grammoptera ruficornis). Familie Boktorren (Cerambycidae)... Gewone Bloesemboktor (Grammoptera ruficornis). Familie Boktorren (Cerambycidae).. Gewone Bloesemboktor (Grammoptera ruficornis). Familie Boktorren (Cerambycidae).  Grammoptera ruficornis. Family Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae).

In May, June, you can find them on flowers. 
It is matt black in color. Legs and antennae are black with orange. It's a small longhorn beetle. Length 4.5 to 7 mm.
The larvae lives under the bark of decaying branches of different deciduous trees. A common species in  Europe and Western Asia. Photos June 2012. German: Mattschwarze Blütenbock.  
  

Tanbark borer, violet tanbark beetle (Phymatodes testaceus).  Family Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae)... Tanbark borer, violet tanbark beetle (Phymatodes testaceus).  Family Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae).  Tanbark borer, violet tanbark beetle (Phymatodes testaceus).  Family Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae).

These longhorn beetles vary greatly in colour. Their elytra are yellow to brown, black, blue or even purple. Thick thighs but thin legs. The pronotum is dark red to yellowish or red.
The larvae live in the wood of dead trees. They are found in the bark, and under the bark in the sapwood. They are in the wood for the fireplace, but not in the wood of houses, because no bark is around it. Mostly oak, but also beech, hornbeam and fruit trees. The beetles live daytime hidden under the bark or in cracks and are active in the evenings.
June - July. Length 8-16 mm. Europe, Asia, the Caucasus, North Africa and now in North America. Photos 1-7-2015.  German: Variable Schönbock, Veränderlicher Scheibenbock, Rotgelber Scheibenbock. French: Phymatode variable ou Longicorne variable. 
  

Lesser thorn-tipped longhorn beetle (Pogonocherus hispidus). Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae)... Lesser thorn-tipped longhorn beetle (Pogonocherus hispidus). Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae).. Lesser thorn-tipped longhorn beetle (Pogonocherus hispidus). Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae).  Lesser thorn-tipped longhorn beetle (Pogonocherus hispidus). Family Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae).

This is a small beetle. At the tip of each elytron it has a thorn like tooth. The light band on the elytrons is also striking. On the pronotum has two shiny bumps. It looks like the P. hispidulus (rare in the Netherlands). The other family members don't have the thorn like tooth at the end of the elytron.
It lives on various deciduous trees. Throughout the year. Especially in May and late August.
Length 4 to 6.5 mm The beetle in the picture is about 4 mm. Europe, North Africa. Photos 20-6-2011  German: Dornige Wimperbock.
  
  
Vuurboktor (Pyrrhidium sanguineum).. Pyrrhidium sanguineum. Family Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae).. Pyrrhidium sanguineum. Family Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae).  Pyrrhidium sanguineum. Family Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae).

The head is black. The legs and antennae are black. The rest of the body is bright red. The hair is red. The neck shield is uneven.
Beetle larvae are found under the bark of dead branches and trunks. Oak is their favourite host.
The female is larger than the male. Because the antennas are of equal length, the antennae of the male look longer. (approximately body length)
April - May. Length 6 to 15 mm. Europe, North Africa, Iran. Photos 25-4-2011, 6-5-2015. German: Rothaarbock, Roter Scheibenbock.  
  

Ribbed Pine Borer (Rhagium inquisitor).  Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae)... Ribbed Pine Borer (Rhagium inquisitor).  Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae).. Ribbed Pine Borer (Rhagium inquisitor).  Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae).. Ribbed Pine Borer (Rhagium inquisitor).  Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae).  Ribbed Pine Borer (Rhagium inquisitor). Family Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae).

The colour of the elytra of this beetle is black to dark gray. On the elytra it has yellow-brown hairs. On the places without ore with less hairs you see yellowish to reddish brown cross bands and spots. The pronotum has a spine on each side. The antennae are short for a longhorn beetle.
On sandy soils, in the dunes. The larvae develop under the bark of conifers, but also of birch, alder, beech and oak.
Food beetle: Parts of flowers and tree resin.
April - August. Length 10 - 21 mm. Photos 22-5-2013. Europe, Siberia, the Caucasian mountains, the northern Asia. German: Schrotbock. 
  
  
Tetrops praeustus, Tetrops praeusta.. Tetrops praeustus, Tetrops praeusta  Tetrops praeustus, Tetrops praeusta. Family Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae).

A tiny beetle. It is common in the Netherlands, but of course you are it easily overlooked. It has a black neck shield with a yellow brown carapace. The end of the carapace is dark. The front legs are paler than the other legs. You can just see that it's a hairy beetle. (short hair)
It is mainly found on Prunus species, but also on hawthorn. The larvae live under bark of small dead branches, of apple, rowan, hawthorn etc. The development takes 1 to 2 years.
Tetrops starkii is very similar. But this beetle is only found in southern Limburg. And it is very rare.
May - June. Length 3 - 6 mm. Europe, North Africa. Recently introduced in eastern North America. Photos 3-5-2011  German: Starks Pflaumenbock. 
 
  

 

On the page "Insects in France"

Musk beetle (Aromia moschata)  Chlorophorus trifasciatus  Chlorophorus varius
1. Musk beetle (Aromia moschata). 2. Chlorophorus trifasciatus. 3. Chlorophorus varius.

Some longhorn beetles I photographed in 2015 in Croatia..

Agapanthia cardui or Agapanthia pannonica    Agapanthia cynarae   Agapanthia cynarae probably
1. Agapanthia cardui or Agapanthia pannonica  2. Agapanthia cynarae  3. Clytus rhamni probably
Stictoleptura cordigera   Synonym: Brachyleptura cordigera, Corymbia cordigera        
4. Stictoleptura cordigera  Synonym: Brachyleptura cordigera, Corymbia cordigera  
Old house borer (Hylotrupes bajulus). Family Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae)... Old house borer (Hylotrupes bajulus). Family Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae).    Old house borer (Hylotrupes bajulus). Family Longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae).

Photographed in Croatia. This is the longhorn beetle, which has caused such a bad name to the longhorn beetles.
The larva is also living in wood of houses and can cause damage. (Especially to roofs) It has a preference for sandy soils and coniferous trees.
A black beetle with a spotty, white-grey hairs on the shields. The pronotum also with white-grey hairs and with some bald, shiny black spots.
Length about 7-21 mm. June August.
Originating in Europe, but having been spread in timber and wood products. Now it almost cosmopolitan and has been found in Southern Africa, Asia, the Americas, Australia. Photos 6-6-2015.
  

 

Beetles similar to Longhorn beetles

Dasytes cyaneus.. Dasytes cyaneus. Dasytes cyaneus  Dasytes cyaneus. Family Dasytidae, Melyridae.

It looks like a small longhorn beetle and has a dark blue metallic sheen. Legs and antennae are black. They have very fine and short hair.  The antennae of the females are shorter than the antennae of the males
Here you see the Dasytes on a Trout Lily (Erythronium dens-canis). The photo was taken in April. May to August. Length 5 mm.
The larvae are white, six-legged and hairy. They live in rotten wood and are predatory. The beetle emerges in spring. 
Europe (except north), North Africa. German: Blaue Wollhaarkäfer. 
  
  
Dasytes aerosus. Family Dasytidae, Melyridae... Dasytes aerosus. Family Dasytidae, Melyridae.  Dasytes aerosus. Family Dasytidae, Melyridae.

Not as shiny blue as a Dasytes cyaneus. I'm not quite sure for it also looks like a Dasytes niger. Length about 5 mm. Photos 6-6-2013. 
  
Oedemera lurida or Oedemera virescens. Family Oedemeridae... Oedemera lurida or Oedemera virescens. Family Oedemeridae.. Oedemera lurida or Oedemera virescens. Family Oedemeridae.. Oedemera lurida or Oedemera virescens. Family Oedemeridae.  Oedemera lurida or Oedemera virescens. Family Oedemeridae.

They are metallic-green, blue. Many males of this family have very thick thighs.
They are found on flowers, where they are feeding on pollen. The larvae develop in plant stems.
Length 5 - 9 mm. Europe, North Africa, Asia. Photos 6-4-2008 and June 2012. German: Grünliche Scheinbockkäfer.  
  
  
Ischnomera cyanea. Family Oedemeridae... Ischnomera cyanea. Family Oedemeridae.. Ischnomera cyanea. Family Oedemeridae.  Ischnomera cyanea. Family Oedemeridae.

An other species is Ischnodema caerulea. Synonyms are Asclera cyanea, Asclera coerulescens and Asclera coerulea. 
A beautiful coloured blue beetle. Photos 20-4-2011, 29-4-2009. German: Blaugrüner Scheinbock. 
    
  
Chrysanthia nigricornis synonym Chrysanthia geniculata. Family Oedemeridae.  Chrysanthia geniculata synonym Chrysanthia nigricornis. Family Oedemeridae. Not in the garden, but in the dunes about 4 km from our house. 

Metallic blue, green or copper coloured beetle. The legs are orange with dark.  The larvae are found in decaying spruce, on which they feed. The beetles feed on pollen. Length 5 - 8 mm. Europe. Photo 7-8-2012.
    

Some Oedemeridae I photographed in 2015 in Croatia..

Oedemera flavipes male     Oedemera flavipes female    Oedemera nobilis male
1. Oedemera flavipes male  2. Oedemera flavipes female  3. Oedemera nobilis male 

I want to thank everyone, who has helped me (waarneming.nl) to identify. In particular, Jan Cuppen and Theodoor Heijerman.

(translated the Dutch longhorn beetles) by Theo Zeegers and Theodoor Heijerman. Now on internet: Longhorn beetles determination based on this book "De Nederlandse boktorren". It is in Dutch but there are also many photos of the Dutch species.

A beautiful site with much information:   The Garden Safari   An English site about beetles  Beetle Gallery
An German site about beetles www.kerbtier.de   An German site about beetles  www.koleopterologie.de


 
Nederlands / Dutch                                             


                      

 

Subpage beetles    Ground beetles (Carabidae)      Leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae)      Snout beetles, weevils      Longhorn beetles, similar to longhorn beetles      Ladybirds, Ladybugs, Coccinellidae      Rove beetles (Staphylinidae)      Small  beetles      

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