Featured speciesText © K. Reißmann, T. Hörren, M. Stern, F. Bötzl and C. Benisch
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29.11.2024
Rhamnusium bicolor (Schrk., 1781)
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25 
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The longhorn beetle Rhamnusium bicolor (family Cerambycidae) is widespread in most of Europe with the exception of the British Isles, Spain and the Mediterranean islands. In the North it reaches Southern Finland and in the East it reaches to the Caucasus. The 15 to 23 mm large beetle is quite variable. In addition to the most common form with a red head and pronotum and blue-black elytra, there are all-yellow or brown-colored specimens, plus some transitions between the dark and the light form. The development takes place mainly in hollow trees of willow (Salix), poplar (Populus), beech (Fagus) and horse chestnut (Aesculus). The duration of activity of the beetles is only about 14 days in June/July. During the day the beetles sit on their host trees and become active at dusk. (KR)
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20.09.2024
Spondylis buprestoides (L., 1758)
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14
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For a Longhorn Beetle Spondylis buprestoides (family Cerambycidae) looks rather strange. The antennae of the 12 to 24 mm long beetles are rather short and just reach the rear edge of the pronotum, contrary to other Longhorn Beetles with antennae of almost body length. The cylindrical body shape makes it look even stranger. The development takes place mainly in pine (Pinus), but also in spruce (Picea), fir (Abies) and larch (Larix). The beetles can be found in summer mostly on and under timber wood. Although they are primarily nocturnal and usually hide during daytime, the beetle can be occasionally observed flying to timber wood on warm summer days. (KR)
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21.06.2024
Oberea erythrocephala (Schrk., 1776)
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27
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The Leafy Spurge Stem Boring Beetle Oberea erythrocephala belongs to the longhorn beetles (family Cerambycidae). The slender beetles are 9-14 mm long and are active fliers. The larval development cycle takes one year in the stem and root of Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia sp.). As a markedly xerothermophilic species, O. erythrocephala can be found from May to July on arenaceous heathland and sun exposed mountain slopes in southern Central Europe. In 1980, the species was introduced to the US and Canada for pest control of Leafy Spurge on grassland and was released in several states. Meanwhile, it is established in a few states. (CB)
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12.04.2024
Rhagium sycophanta (Schrk., 1781)
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27
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The 17 to 30 mm large longhorn beetle Rhagium sycophanta (family Cerambycidae) is the largest of the four representatives of the genus in our fauna. Totally, the genus comprises 17 species in the Palearctic, thereof 12 in the western Palearctic. Rhagium sycophanta is known to occur from Europe to Asia minor, the Caucasus and the Altai Mountains. The stenotopic, silvicolous species lives in deciduous and mixed forests from the lowlands to the low mountain range. It develops in oak, rarely in other deciduous trees like beech, lime, birch, alder and chestnut. The beetles can be found on the host trees, often at the foot of the tree, occasionally also on umbellifers. The larvae dig broad, flat galleries under the bark into the wood of oak stumps, logs and ailing trees. The formerly common species has become rare in Germany and is regarded as vulnerable (RL 3). (CB)
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02.02.2024
Trichoferus pallidus (Ol., 1790)
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21
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The 14 to 21 mm large longhorn beetle Trichoferus pallidus (family Cerambycidae) is the only representative of the genus in our fauna. The thermophilous species is known to occur from Western over Central Europa to the Crimea and the Northern Caucasus. The nocturnal species can be found in old oak forests on old oaks with partially dead treetop and in the process of dying. Trichoferus pallidus is very demanding concerning its habitat. Occurrences are limited to forests which have never been devastated since the end of the last glacial period 12,500 years ago. Its larvae develop under the bark of trunks and thick branches of oak, very rarely of beech or lime. Recent records in Germany are only known from Baden, the Palatinate and Hesse. Trichoferus pallidus is regarded as critically endangered (RL 1). (CB)
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01.12.2023
Chlorophorus varius (Müll., 1766)
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25
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The 8 to 14 mm large longhorn beetle Chlorophorus varius (family Cerambycidae) is one of currently four species of the genus Chlorophorus in Germany. The stenotopic, thermophilous species ranges from Southern, Central and Eastern Europe to Asia, Minor, the Caucasus, North Iran, Transcaucasia and Western Siberia. The beetles live on meadows and at the edges of forests in warm habitats. The adults can be found at warm slopes, in vineyards, on sun-exposed edges of forests and waysides on umbellifers. The larvae develop in a 2-3-year cycle in 2 to 5 cm thick dead or dry branches of various deciduous trees, among them horse chestnut, elm, maple, alder, ash and others. In Germany, recent records are known from the southwest and a few regions in the east. Chlorophorus varius is regarded as critically endangered (RL 1). (CB)
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01.09.2023
Megopis scabricornis (Scop., 1763)
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20
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The 30 to 50 mm large longhorn beetle Megopis scabricornis (family Cerambycidae) is among the largest and very rare beetle species and the only representative of genus Megopis in our fauna. Its distribution ranges from Northern Spain over the southern part of Central Europe to Asia minor, the Caucasus and Iran. The thermophilous urwald relic species is polyphagous. Its larvae develop in decaying, moist wood of dying deciduous trees (e.g. beech, lime, poplar apple, cherry and horse chestnut) in deciduous forests, parks, alleys, traditional orchards and river meadows. The beetles appear from June to August. They are crepuscular and nocturnal and are attracted to light. In Germany, known records are mainly from the southwest with a few scattered records from Brandenburg and Saxony. It is regarded as critically endangered (RL 1). (CB)
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23.12.2022
Hylotrupes bajulus (L., 1758)
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15
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The 7 to 21 mm large old house borer Hylotrupes bajulus (family Cerambycidae) Is the only representative of the genus worldwide. Originally of palearctic distribution, Hylotrupes bajulus is meanwhile found also in North America, South Africa, Asia and Australia. The species develops in coniferous sapwood, mainly construction lumber in roof structures. Contrary to the death watch beetles the larvae don't expel wood dust from their burrows and the infestation often goes unnoticed. Depending on temperature, moisture and nutrition content, the larval development takes 4 to 10 years. The lower the nutrition content, the higher is the amount of wood consumed by the larva and they cause much damage in a short period of time. Therefore an infestation is reportable in some Federal States. In Germany, the species is everywhere present and is not endangered. (CB)
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21.10.2022
Rosalia alpina (L., 1758)
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22
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The 15 to 38 mm large Rosalia longicorn Rosalia alpina (family Cerambycidae) is the only representative of the genus and probably among the most beautiful beetle species in our fauna. Its distribution stretches over Central and Southern Europe, from the Pyrenees to Asia Minor and to the Caucasus. Rosalia alpina prefers sparse, primeval beech forests on south- or west-facing slopes between 600 and 1000 m ASL. The adults appear from end of June until early September, with a maximum of activity between mid of July and mid of August. In Central Europe the development takes place in the wood of dead or dying, sun-exposed beeches (Fagus sylvatica), very rarely in sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus). In Germany, Rosalia alpina is very rare, endangered (RL 2) and strictly protected by law. Topic page... (CB)
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27.05.2022
Leptura aurulenta (F., 1792)
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28
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The 13 to 18 mm large golden haired longhorn beetle Leptura aurulenta (family Cerambycidae) is one of five representatives of the genus in Germany. It can be potentially confused with its sister species Leptura quadrifasciata, which shows completely black legs. The stenotopic, thermophilous species occurs in Northwest Africa, South and Central Europe. It prefers sunny edges of forests and glades in the colline zone. Larval development takes place in trunks and rootstocks of dead deciduous trees, especially beech, but also oak, willow, poplar, alder, birch and chestnut. The adult beetles appear from June to August on umbellifers. They are quite agile in the sunlight and are able fliers. In Germany, the species is limited to the South and the West. It is regarded as endangered (RL 2). (CB)
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11.03.2022
Rhagium bifasciatum F., 1775
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20
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The 12 to 22 mm large two-banded longhorn beetle Rhagium bifasciatum (family Cerambycidae) is one of four representatives of the genus in Germany. The genus is of holarctic distribution and comprises 25 species. The stenotopic, silvicolous R. bifasciatum occurs from Europe of Asia Minor to the Caucasus. The beetles prefer deciduous and mixed forests from the lowlands to the mountain range. The 2-year larval development takes place in stumps and logs of spruce and pine, occasionally in deciduous trees like beech and oak. Contrary to its sister species, the larva of R. bifasciatum does not build a pupal chamber under the bark, but pupates in the rotten wood. The diurnal beetles can be found from late April on logs and branches and occasionally on blossoms. In Germany it is recorded from all regions and common. (CB)
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15.10.2021
Callidium aeneum (DeGeer, 1775)
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22
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The 9 to 15 mm large longhorn beetle Callidium aeneum (family Cerambycidae) is one of three species of the genus known to occur in Germany. Worldwide 21 Callidium species haven been described, the majority of them in the Nearctic. The silvicolous species lives in the montane and subalpine zone from North and Central Europe over Asia Minor and the Caucasus to Siberia. The development cycle takes one year in spruce, occasionally pine, fir or larch. The larvae need sufficient level of humidity to develop. Larvae present in processed timber wood can often finalize their development. Since pupation takes place in a sealed cell deeply embedded in the wood, Callidium aeneum can cause technical damage. In Germany the species is known from virtually all regions, but scattered and not common to rare. (CB)
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04.06.2021
Xylotrechus rusticus (L., 1758)
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24
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The 9 to 20 mm large aspen zebra beetle Xylotrechus rusticus (family Cerambycidae) is among the relatively more common five representatives of the genus in Germany. The species is of palearctic distribution and ranges from Europe over Central Asia and Siberia to Korea and Japan. The stenotopic, silvicolous and xylodetricolous species lives in deciduous forests and at the edges of forests, in the Upper Rhine valley mainly in floodplain forests. The diurnal beetles can be found from End of May to July on dying or cut deciduous trees, e.g. willow, aspen, beech, birch and poplar, where their coloration provides excellent camouflage. The larval development takes up to three years in the wood of the above mentioned trees. In Germany, the species is missing in the Northwest. It is regarded as rare and endangered (RL 2). (CB)
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19.02.2021
Acanthocinus aedilis (L., 1758)
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22
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The 12 to 20 mm large timberman beetle Acanthocinus aedilis (family Cerambycidae) is the most common species of the genus in Germany. The antennae of the female are around two times of the body length, those of the male even around five times. The stenotopic species lives in temperate to cold-temperate climate, Europe to North Balkan, the Caucasus, Siberia, Mongolia and China. It occurs in coniferous and mixed forests from the lowlands to the mountains. The diurnal beetles can be found on recently felled logs of pine. They feed on needles, bast fiber and bark of their host trees. The larvae develop within 1-2 years under the bark of pine, occasionally fir, spruce and larch. The hatch in autumn and hibernate in their puparium. In Germany recent records are known from virtually all Federal States. The species is not endangered. (CB)
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17.07.2020
Mesosa nebulosa (F., 1781)
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24
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The 9 to 15 mm large White-clouded longhorn beetle Mesosa nebulosa (family Cerambycidae) is the more common of the two Mesosa species in Germany. Its coloration is a camouflage perfectly adapted to a life on bark. The beetle occurs in North Africa and Europe and is neither rare nor common. It is polyphagous and develops in a 2-3-year cycle in dead branches of various deciduous trees, e.g. common hornbeam (Carpinus), beech (Fagus), oak (Quercus), maple (Acer), elm (Ulmus) and lime (Tilia). The beetles hatch in autumn and hibernate in the puparium. The eurytopic, silvicolous beetles can be found from April to June on bushes, trees and stacks of wood in deciduous forests and at edges of forests. In Germany there are recent records from all Federal States. Nevertheless, M. nebulosa is regarded as vulnerable (RL 3). (CB)
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10.04.2020
Menesia bipunctata (Zoubk., 1829)
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38
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The 6 to 9 mm large longhorn beetle Menesia bipunctata (family Cerambycidae) is the only representative of the genus in Germany. Its distribution ranges from West France over Russia to the South Ural Mountains and in South Europe from Northeast Italy over Slovenia to Romania. The stenotopic, paludicolous species prefers bogs, fens and wet floodplain forests as habitat. The larvae develop in dead, thin branches of Alder Buckthorn (Frangula alnus), only occasionally in other deciduous trees. The adults sit on the lower side of the leaves and escape swiftly in warm sunny weather. In Germany, recent records are known from a number of Federal States with an extinction zone in the Rhineland, Northrhine-Westphalia, Hesse and Thuringia. The species is regarded as vulnerable (RL 3). (CB)
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06.09.2019
Lamia textor (L., 1758)
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31
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The weaver beetle Lamia textor is one of very few flightless longhorn beetles (family Cerambycidae) of the German fauna. The beetle is usually rather found by chance, when the beetles crawl slowly on the ground near their brood trees at dusk. They develop in the wood of living willow (Salix) and poplar (Populus), occasionally in alder (Alnus) and birch (Betula). Due to their long lifespan of about 300 days, the beetles can be observed from April until October, depending on the weather conditions. In former times, the beetle was regarded as common. Today the weaver beetle is very rare and not too many people have seen the beetle in the wild. Consequently, Lamia textor is classified as endangered (RL 2) in the Red List of endangered species in Germany. (KR)
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19.07.2019
Phytoecia nigripes (Voet, 1778)
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26
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The 10 to 16 mm large longhorn beetle Phytoecia nigripes (family Cerambycidae) is one of currently eight representatives of the genus in Germany. At first sight it can be confused with longhorn beetles of the genus Oberea. The pontomediterranean species is known to occur from the Pyrenees over the Alps to Southeast Europe, Syria and around the Black Sea and prefers colline to montane zones. In the Alps it reaches the subalpine zone. Phytoecia nigripes is xerothermophilic and lives on warm slopes and calcareous pasturage. The beetle develops in umbellifers, e.g. cow parsley (Chaerophyllum) and rosinweed (Silphium). In Germany, there are only recent records from Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. In the Red List of Germany, Phytoecia nigripes is classified as vulnerable (RL 3). (CB)
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24.05.2019
Chlorophorus figuratus (Scop., 1763)
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24
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The 7 to 13 mm large longhorn beetle Chlorophorus figuratus (family Cerambycidae) is one of four representatives of the genus in Germany, all of them are rather rare. The black elytra exhibit three white bands and white spots on the shoulders – similar only to C. sartor in Germany. C. figuratus is of south palearctic distribution, from Southern to Central Europe, Asia Minor, the Caucasus to Western Siberia. The stenotopic, thermophilic species lives on warm slopes and heath steppe and develops xylophagous in dead branches of elm (Ulmus), oak (Quercus), chestnut (Castanea) and others deciduous trees in a 2-year development cycle. The adults visit blossoms, they can be found from June to August on Compositae, Umbelliferae and hawthorn. In Germany the species is regarded as endangered (RL 2). (CB)
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29.03.2019
Callimus angulatus (Schrk., 1789)
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30
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The 7 to 9 mm large longhorn beetle Callimus angulatus (family Cerambycidae) is the only representative of the genus in Germany. The distribution of the Mediterranean species ranges from Spain over Italy to the Caucasus and North Iran and reaches the south of Central Europe in the circumalpine region. In Germany the thermophilic species is restricted to the southern half and is very rare. The larva develops in dead branches as thick as an arm of oak (Quercus) and beech (Fagus). The slender, metallic blue beetles can be found on sunny days on sunny slopes and on the edges of forests on hawthorn (Crataegus) and buckthorn (Rhamnus), very rarely on other flowers (composites). In Germany Callimus angulatus is regarded as endangered (RL 2). (CB)
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01.02.2019
Pedostrangalia revestita (L., 1767)
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23
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The longhorn beetle Pedostrangalia revestita (family Cerambycidae) is known to occur in virtually all Federal States of Germany. However, due to its acrodendric lifestyle and the very special requirements of the larvae the beetle is rarely found. Some observations of animals fallen from the treetop are known, but mostly records result from specimen reared from larvae. The larvae develop in various deciduous trees, mainly in red rotted parts of living trees or in the insertion points of dead branches. The attractive species is 8 to 15 mm large and can be mixed up with Rhamnusium bicolor at first sight. However, the latter is considerably larger (15-23 mm) and has a completely different lifestyle. In Germany Pedostrangalia revestita is regarded as endangered (RL 2). (KR)
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07.12.2018
Oxymirus cursor (L., 1758)
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23
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The 16 to 30 mm large longhorn beetle Oxymirus cursor (formerly Toxotus cursor) is a representative of the subfamily Lepturinae within the longhorn beetles (family Cerambycidae). The variable species is known to occur throughout Europe (with exception of the south), in the Caucasus and Siberia. The stenotopic, silvicolous Oxymirus cursor prefers coniferous forests, especially spruce forests of the montane to alpine zone as habitat. The ligniocolous and xylodetriticolous species develops in moist and rotten root wood of spruce (Picea) and pine (Pinus). On warm days the beetles swarm and can be found on old trunks and occasionally on flowers. In Germany, Oxymirus cursor is recorded from most Federal States and is not regarded as endangered. (CB)
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24.08.2018
Prionus coriarius (L., 1758)
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30
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With a body length of 18 to 45 mm the sawyer Prionus coriarius (family Cerambycidae) is among the large species of the German beetle fauna. The vernacular name of the species comes from the sawtooth-like antennae of the male. The development cycle takes three years in living, but ailing oaks, mainly in root wood or in trunk wood near the ground. During the day the beetles sit motionless in the lower parts of the trunk, often hidden by the surrounding lower vegetation. At dusk they climb up the stems and can be easily observed. Due to its crepuscular and nocturnal lifestyle the beetle is not widely known, despite its abundance (recent records are known from all regions of Germany). Prionus coriarius is not endangered and is not comprised in the Red List of Germany. (KR)
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29.06.2018
Tetropium fuscum (F., 1758)
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35
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The longhorn beetle Tetropium fuscum (family Cerambycidae) is one of three very similar species of the genus in Central Europe. T. fuscum can be distinguished from its sister species by the yellow pubescence on the shoulders of the elytra. The species is present in parts of Southern Europe, Central Europe and reaches far into Northern and Eastern Europe, from the lowlands to the low mountain range. The 8 to 17 mm large beetle follows primarily spruce (Picea), in which it develops. The larvae live under the bark of freshly dead spruce (Picea), rarely fir (Abies). The development cycle is one year. For pupation the larva penetrates deeper into the wood, which devalues the wood. That's why the species is regarded as a forest pest. The beetles are primarily crepuscular and nocturnal. (KR)
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16.03.2018
Plagionotus detritus (L., 1758)
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23
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The 10 to 19 mm large longhorn beetle Plagionotus detritus (family Cerambycidae) mimics the appearance of stinging wasps - similar to longhorn beetles of the genus Leptura, Clytus and Xylotrechus as well as insects from other orders (e.g. hoverflies, clearwing moths). This is called Batesian mimicry. Its distribution stretches from Southern and Central Europe to the Caucasus, Northern Kazakhstan and the Middle East. The larval development takes 1-2 years in stems and thick branches of various deciduous trees, in Central Europe preferably in oak (Quercus), but also hornbeam (Carpinus), beech (Fagus), chestnut (Castanea). The beetles can be found on the side and at the bottom of fresh timber logs lying in the sun. In Germany the species is regarded as endangered (RL 2). (KR/CB)
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