largish (longhorn?) beetle with red femora having black distal tips

[rich ard]

I thought this largish (2-3cm long body) beetle. which I think is in the longhorn group, would be quite easy to id with it's red femora having black distal tips.

But I cannot find any images here or on the net, nor can I find it in Chinery or Harde.

Suggestions please.

[oxycera]

Looks like Stenochorus meridianus - can be a bit variable

[Adam Cheeseman]

Looks more like a Soldier Beetle to my blurry Sunday morning eyes.

Cheers,

Adam

[poschiavanus]

Looks a very interesting find.

There is a complete set of paintings of British longhorn beetles by Richard Lewington in British Wildlife volumes 18(6) pp 409-414 & 19(1) pp 35-43. Nothing exactly matches, but judging by size and the tapering of the elytra Stenocorus meridianus is a possibility.

Some pictures on the web show similar features: eg. here and here.

This species was commonly recorded 100 years ago in Notts with the generic name Toxotus (Carr (1916:352):

TOXOTUS Ser.

T. meridianus L. Wellow Park (Becher). Worksop (Hodding). Retford district (Peyler). Clarborough (Chamberliri). South Leverton ; Treswell Wood ; East Park Wood, Laxton, 15. vi. 1906; Besthorpe, 13. vi. 1914 (Thornley). Stapleford (Dawson). Wollaton (Hyles). Owthorpe, 6. vi. 1914 (Saunt). Southwell, 15. vi. 1899; Crow Wood Hill, West Leake, 23. vi. 1912 and 14. vi. 1913.

Cheers,

Posch

[rich ard]

My thanks to Oxycera and Posch, Stenochorus meridianus looks spot on.

Adam, size is difficult to assess from a piture but this beetle was 3-4x larger than a Soldier beetle

Thanks again

Richard

Originally Posted by oxycera

Looks like Stenochorus meridianus - can be a bit variable

[Matt Smith]

Originally Posted by oxycera

Looks like Stenochorus meridianus - can be a bit variable

and sexually diamorphic as well.

[oxycera]

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

Looks more like a Soldier Beetle to my blurry Sunday morning eyes.

Cheers,

Adam

Is that an entomological observation or just a statement of visual impairment?

[Klaas Reißmann]

Stenocorus meridianus should be right. There is another species, much more seldom, Stenocorus quercus, of which I don't know if it occurs in the UK. If it does I would like to aks for a picture to see the antennae very clear and detailed from limb no.1 to no.6.

Regards
Klaas

[rich ard]

Thank you Klaas,

I will try to find out about Stenocorus quercus in Nottinghamshire.

I do have several pictures but they are not so clear. Which part of the antennae and limbs (legs) do you wish to see more clearly? Also, would you mind telling me which distinguishing features are you looking for?

Thanks again, Richard

Originally Posted by Klaas Reißmann

Stenocorus meridianus should be right. There is another species, much more seldom, Stenocorus quercus, of which I don't know if it occurs in the UK. If it does I would like to aks for a picture to see the antennae very clear and detailed from limb no.1 to no.6.

Regards
Klaas

[Matt Smith]

In the UK, we only have Stenocorus meridianus, S.quercus is not on the British list.