Longhorn beetle - ID needed!

Bramble · #1 (**permalink**) 01-08-2006, 01:29 PM

What on earth is this, and should it really be crawling up my street?

Any information welcome! Thanks to my Dad for taking the photo, it would have been a blurry mess if I had!

colinaj · #2 (**permalink**) 01-08-2006, 02:33 PM

Monochamus sartor where are you?as it is really an upland species but it could have come in with conifer logs brought in from Europe or Scotland

Bramble · #3 (**permalink**) 02-08-2006, 10:40 AM

Thanks for that - that was quick! I'm in Dundee, and the beetle was found in my street, a busy main thoroughfare leading into Dundee city centre! We do have a park nearby, but have never seen this species before. It was found outside a launderette, so perhaps it may have found its way south in someone's camping gear?

Wild-Woman · #4 (**permalink**) 02-08-2006, 10:44 AM

Or it could have been washing it's smalls.

Bramble · #5 (**permalink**) 02-08-2006, 11:08 AM

It was standing at a bus stop as well, so maybe it had just dropped them off

Anyone know if it's invasive or alien and needs to be reported to anyone?

Imaginos · #6 (**permalink**) 02-08-2006, 12:18 PM

Your local recorder would probably be interested-contact through the local Wildlife Trust, or here:http://www.brc.ac.uk/recording_schemes.asp

henrya · #7 (**permalink**) 02-08-2006, 02:31 PM

The National recorder (Martin Rejzek) would definitely be interested if it really is Monochamus, since it will be the first British record, as far as I know!

henrya

Imaginos · #8 (**permalink**) 02-08-2006, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by henrya

The National recorder (Martin Rejzek) would definitely be interested if it really is Monochamus, since it will be the first British record, as far as I know!

henrya

I did wonder about that, had to break Cloeopteres Phytophages D'Europe out again (twice in a week!) and it does look like Monochamus sutor. I'd be interested to see what Martin says...

Dan Salter · #9 (**permalink**) 02-08-2006, 03:12 PM

How exciting ! this one could be interesting! ?

henrya · #10 (**permalink**) 02-08-2006, 03:31 PM

Further discussions with colleagues reinforces the likelihood of it being a Monochamus species, but apparently at least three species of that genus have been recorded in Britain before, usually from imported timber. Bramble, is there a timber yard or builder's yard nearby?

henrya

henrya · #11 (**permalink**) 03-08-2006, 08:40 AM

Bramble, you can contact Martin Rejzek on m.rejzek@uea.ac.uk - it'll be intersting to know what he makes of your find.

henrya

Bramble · #12 (**permalink**) 03-08-2006, 09:59 AM

Thanks guys - this gets more intriguing by the minute! To think if I had been quicker in getting a box to trap it I could have had a live specimen

There are no timber yards locally, at least in the immediate vicinity. There is a sawmill on the outskirts of the city, and occasionally timber lorries come down the street. Will contact Martin and see what he says!

Gaina · #13 (**permalink**) 03-08-2006, 03:09 PM

Oh crumbs! I just had a look at that in my insect guide and that looks like my mystery bug too!

Gill Catton · #14 (**permalink**) 03-08-2006, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaina

Oh crumbs! I just had a look at that in my insect guide and that looks like my mystery bug too!

How was it moving? Longhorn beetles are uaully quite slow in movement in comparison to the Ich wasps which are always on the quiver - wings, antennae, legs always on the move. Plus the longhorn beetle has solid wing cases over it's real wings, the Ich just has thin wings, does this help?

colinaj · #15 (**permalink**) 03-08-2006, 04:39 PM

Could well be first for Britian & there could also have been a visitation from abroad. I wonder if it did ! fly here or most probably came in from a ship.

Glad I could help & that the ID has almost been confirmed.

You just never know what you will see & when.

Gaina · #16 (**permalink**) 03-08-2006, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

How was it moving? Longhorn beetles are uaully quite slow in movement in comparison to the Ich wasps which are always on the quiver - wings, antennae, legs always on the move. Plus the longhorn beetle has solid wing cases over it's real wings, the Ich just has thin wings, does this help?

Yes it was always moving it's antennae, and it was fluttering from one plant to another. It had thin wings, not the hard casings of a beetle

Bramble · #17 (**permalink**) 04-08-2006, 10:04 AM

My bug was moving ve-e-e-e-ry slowly, like it was an effort to put one foot in front of the other! If I hadn't spotted the movement, I would have thought it was one of these plastic toy beetles!

Bramble · #18 (**permalink**) 04-08-2006, 10:28 AM

Martin has got back to me; from my little pic he thinks that (a) it is some sort of monochamus for definite; (b) it is almost certainly not M sutor or M galloprovincialis; (c) it may either be sartor or even M urussovi from Russia/Poland. I am away to send the full size pics on to him - keep you posted!

Paul mabbott · #19 (**permalink**) 04-08-2006, 08:17 PM

Yes, let us know!
It's what Yorkshire entomologist call a 'reet big bogger.'!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bramble

Martin has got back to me; from my little pic he thinks that (a) it is some sort of monochamus for definite; (b) it is almost certainly not M sutor or M galloprovincialis; (c) it may either be sartor or even M urussovi from Russia/Poland. I am away to send the full size pics on to him - keep you posted!

Dan Salter · #20 (**permalink**) 04-08-2006, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bramble

My bug was moving ve-e-e-e-ry slowly, like it was an effort to put one foot in front of the other! If I hadn't spotted the movement, I would have thought it was one of these plastic toy beetles!

Every time i look at the pic i think its been squished? damaged? the back leg looks odd and maybe some guts coming out? or it that just something else? maybe why he was having problems walking?....just a thought?

Paul mabbott · #21 (**permalink**) 04-08-2006, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

Every time i look at the pic i think its been squished? damaged? the back leg looks odd and maybe some guts coming out? or it that just something else? maybe why he was having problems walking?....just a thought?

Yes, seems to be missing a leg? From what you say of the location it wouldn't be surprising to learn that it had been trodden on ....

Beryl · #22 (**permalink**) 04-08-2006, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

Every time i look at the pic i think its been squished? damaged? the back leg looks odd and maybe some guts coming out? or it that just something else? maybe why he was having problems walking?....just a thought?

Have to agree with you there Dan.
I took omne look and thought, a squashed beetle. Poor thing.

No idea what kind of beetle

Beryl · #23 (**permalink**) 04-08-2006, 10:09 PM

It looks like the Longhorn-species -Agapanthia villosoviridescens

Paul mabbott · #24 (**permalink**) 04-08-2006, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beryl

It looks like the Longhorn-species -Agapanthia villosoviridescens

A. villoso .... is one of our most distinctive beetles because of its first antennal segment - e.g. http://www.gardensafari.net/english/...iridescens.htm - this looks nothing like that? Or does it? Too late at night for this sort of thing!

Beryl · #25 (**permalink**) 04-08-2006, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

A. villoso .... is one of our most distinctive beetles because of its first antennal segment - e.g. http://www.gardensafari.net/english/...iridescens.htm - this looks nothing like that? Or does it? Too late at night for this sort of thing!

Sorry if I got it wrong.

Not in mood for arguing.