June 17th.
Spined Oak Borer Beetle (Elaphidion mucronatum)
I found this beetle in
the kitchen. I’m not sure how it got there but I took it outside to photograph
it and let it go. Then I had to learn something about it. Bug Guide provided
the identification.
The specific epithet
(species name) ‘mucronatum’ means ‘pointed’ and refers to sharp femoral spines; a spine is clearly visible on the second leg in the lower image. Beetles are 12-20
mm in length with very long antennae, in this case almost twice the length of
its body.
They are considered
very common in the southeastern United States but their range extends from
Ontario to Minnesota, south to Arizona and Florida. They have a wide range of host
plants include most eastern hardwoods & shrubs. They lay their eggs under
the bark of dead hardwoods. Their larvae feed beneath the bark during their
first year and then deeper during the second year.
June 30th. Zebra
Longhorn Beetle (Typocerus zebra)
We have a small
area of wildflowers under one of the Pecan trees in the field. Purple coneflowers and Butterfly
Milkweeds have bloomed here for several years. We don’t mow the area when these plants are
blooming. Consequently, other plants such as goldenrods fill the area as well.
So,
it was only when I wandered deep into the chest-high area that I discovered a
couple of small Yuccaleaf eryngo (Eryngium yuccifolium) had volunteered in the
patch and were also blooming. And there on the
Yuccaleaf Eryingo was a Zebra Longhorn Beetle (Typocerus zebra). It was a
nicely colored beetle with strong, clearly defined bands of ochre yellow on a dark background. A really nice specimen since the bands on many beetles may appear 'faded.'
The specific
epithet ‘zebra’ refers to the striped pattern on the elytra (wing casings). The
pattern on the elytra is distinctive with the small yellow triangular or hook
markings at the top of the elytra next to the pronotum. Beetles are 8 to 17mm
long with relatively short antennae (compared with the oak borer).
These beetles range
from Virginia to Oklahoma, and south to Texas and Florida. They are found on flowers in fields, roadsides, mostly
adjacent to woodlands with pines, mainly between March and July based on
submissions to Bug Guide. They are thought to feed on nectar and pollen. Their
larvae live in decaying pine stumps.
References:
- Bug Guide: Species Elaphidion mucronatum – Spined Oak Borer
- Bug Guide: Species Typocerus zebra - Zebra Longhorn
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