5 legged longhorn beetle

peterbolson · #1 (**permalink**) 16-07-2009, 01:43 PM

I found this on hogweed. About 10mm body length. I wondered if it was Judolia cerambyciformis ?

Geoff F · #2 (**permalink**) 16-07-2009, 08:09 PM

It looks like a rather pale Strangalia maculata but they do have some close relatives; although I reckon that will be the correct family.

And after doing a quick check of colours, I think your suggestion matches the distribution of black spots a bit more accurately.

charlieb · #3 (**permalink**) 16-07-2009, 08:19 PM

Looks good from where I'm sitting

The NBN distribution is interesting: NBN Gateway: Pachytodes cerambyciformis grid map - plenty of records from your neck of the woods (presuming this was taken in Cumbria)

The names changed in case anyone is wondering - Pachytodes cerambyciformis

peterbolson · #4 (**permalink**) 17-07-2009, 07:51 AM

Thanks for that very interesting link charlie - I see there are no records from my part of Cumbria, or indeed from Cumbria at all. The northern records all seem to be from Northumberland. The distribution is really rather odd. Why so many in Wales & none in Cumbria ? Can you think of any explanation ?

charlieb · #5 (**permalink**) 17-07-2009, 08:35 AM

Northumberland is considered you neck of the woods when it comes to Insect distributions

I can't find anything out about Pachytodes cerambyciformis that would explain the distribution (you have to be cautious with NBN distributions - but it matches the Provisional Atlas of Longhorn Beetles map). It feeds on a variety of dead woods, both coniferous and deciduous as a larva, with no particular preference for any species it seems. Something to do with the types/ages/number of trees or underlying geology I guess!

It seems that Cumbria doesn't have a beetle recorder - it might be worth sending in your record to the local records centre, Virtual Fauna of Lakeland home page (which does have Pachytodes cerambyciformis listed as a Cumbrian species)