Longhorn Beetle - Strangalia or Leptura maculata!!

[Lacerta]

I recently took an image of a Longhorn beetle as below, this is a fairly common beetle at this time of the year.

I have always classified this as Strangalia maculata, however a friend aked me what the difference is between Strangalia and Leptura maculata is and I do not know the answer. Is this just a case of re-classification or are there two distinct species.

I have seen images classified as Leptura maculata which does appear to have a darker pattern and more barrs than spots.

I would be grateful for some advice and whether my image is correctly classified.

[Matt Smith]

Longhorn beetle taxonomy has been through a series of revisions over the years, with several big genera being broken up into a series of smaller ones. Sometimes one revision makes changes to a previous revision, so you get a series of names being appended to a single species over the course of time. Looking up this species, since 1932 it has variously been referred to as

Strangalia maculata
Rutpela maculata
Leptura maculata

The accepted name for this species is now Leptura maculata. It is a very variable species with specimens ranging from alsmost all yellow with small black spots to nearly all black,

[Lacerta]

Many thanks Matt, this explains things quite nicely.

I had seen some reference to the other name 'Rutpela' too but this seemed to be often quoted with 'Leptura'. I sure this only confuses the issue, so I will use the accepted classification of Leptura maculata, this does seem to be the more commonly used name now, but only just!

[Johnny81]

May I add that is a lovely photograph!

[Jason Green]

Afternoon all,

Originally Posted by Matt Smith

The accepted name for this species is now Leptura maculata. It is a very variable species with specimens ranging from alsmost all yellow with small black spots to nearly all black,

It's actually now Rutpela maculata with Leptura being a past synonym isn't it, Matt?

Take care,

Jason

[Lacerta]

Originally Posted by Johnny81

May I add that is a lovely photograph!

Thanks John, I have now promoted this shot to the main Gallery