Furry beetle with long antennae

Bruce Williams · #1 (**permalink**) 09-04-2009, 07:09 PM

Northants garden - 3rd April 2009.

In mature Hypericum bush. Played dead with its antennae held close to its body for about 10 minutes after being disturbed, then slowly started to extend one leg at a time until all legs visible. Finally it unfolded its antennae, raised itself up and started to slowly walk forward (pic taken at this point). Help with identification appreciated.

Bruce

JRsbugs · #2 (**permalink**) 09-04-2009, 07:15 PM

Another great bug shot Bruce! Pogonocherus hispidus, image on thewcg.

Janet

Bruce Williams · #3 (**permalink**) 09-04-2009, 10:10 PM

Thanks for the id Janet, much appreciated as always.

Using your id I did a bit of Googling and came up with the following:

Family: Cerambycidae

Common name is Lesser thorn-tipped longhorn beetle.

Said to mimic bird droppings (well I thought it was quite a handsome chappie

).

It's scientific name Pogonocherus hispidus is confusingly similar to that of the Greater thorn-tipped longhorn beetle, Pogonocherus hispidulus. The two species also look quite similar although the Greater... can easily be recognised by its distinctive white patches on its antennae.

Bruce