Black and Yellow Longhorn Beetle - Rutpela maculata

Scientific Name: Rutpela maculata (syn Strangalia maculata) Cerambycidae.


English Name: Black and Yellow Longhorn Beetle (Longhorn family).


French Name:

5 Key Characters:

• medium sized (13 - 20 mm). 
• long and slender with distinctly tapering elytra.
• very variable, but usually bright yellow elytra (wing cases) with 4 black bands or broken bands of spots.
• front two pairs of legs yellow, back legs mostly black.
• base of antennal segments yellow.
  

Lookalikes:

Habitat: Woodland, especially with birch or pine. The larvae eat damp rotting wood. Adults often visit flowers, especially umbellifers.


Adult Active Period: May-June-July-August-September.


Status: Widespread and common.


Photographed by Loire Valley Nature: