eight-spotted flower longhorn beetle
(Typocerus octonotatus)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
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Description |
Eight-spotted flower longhorn beetle is a common, medium-sized beetle. It occurs mostly in the central United States from Michigan to Tennessee, west to North Dakota, western Colorado, and Texas. There are also scattered records in the east as far as Vermont and Florida, and in the west as far as Montana and Arizona. Adults are found on flowers in late spring and early summer. They feed on pollen, stamens, and nectar. The larvae, called round-headed borers, bore into and feed internally on native grasses. They are one of a very small number of longhorn beetles (Family Cerambycidae) to use grass as a host plant. Adults are ⅜″ to ⅝″ (10 to 15 mm) in length. The body is long, slender, and tapered. The head is black. The antennae are black and long, reaching back to at least the midpoint of the body. They have 12 segments. The second segment is as wide or wider than long. All of the segments are sawtoothed, prominently expanded toward the tip. The outer segments have distinct, long depressions, which are called “poriferous areas”. The eyes are notched around the antennae bases. The upper plate on the first segment of the thorax (pronotum) is wider than long. It is smoothly rounded in front. The sides are smooth, with no spines or bumps (tubercles). The rear is broad, not constricted. It is entirely black, and it is densely covered with erect yellow hairs. The wing covers (elytra) are yellow with black markings. On each elytron, there is a narrow black stripe on the inner margin, and four large black spots. The spots are variable in size, and they are all usually separated from the suture. The coloration is thought to be an example of bee mimicry. The legs are reddish and black. The last part of each leg (tarsus), corresponding to the foot, has five segments. The fourth segment is very short and is hidden between the lobes of the heart-shaped third segment, making the tarsi appear to have only 4 segments. |
Size |
Total length: ⅜″ to ⅝″ (10 to 15 mm) |
Similar Species |
Habitat |
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Biology |
Season |
Late spring and early summer |
Behavior |
Adults are active during the day |
Life Cycle |
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Larva Food |
Grasses |
Adult Food |
Flower pollen, stamens, and nectar |
Distribution |
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Sources |
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| 11/11/2024 | ||
Occurrence |
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Common |
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Taxonomy |
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Order |
Coleoptera (beetles) |
Suborder |
Polyphaga (water, rove, scarab, long-horned, leaf, and snout beetles) |
Infraorder |
Cucujiformia |
Superfamily |
Chrysomeloidea (long-horned and allies) |
Family |
Cerambycidae (longhorn beetles) |
Subfamily |
Lepturinae (flower longhorn beetles) |
Tribe |
Lepturini |
Genus |
Typocerus |
Subordinate Taxa |
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Synonyms |
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Stenura 8-notata Stenura octonotata Strangalia sinuata Typocerus arapahoe Typocerus octonatus Typocerus sinuata Typocerus sinuatus |
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Common Names |
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eight-spotted flower longhorn beetle |
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Glossary
Elytra
The hardened or leathery forewings of beetles used to protect the fragile hindwings, which are used for flying. Singular: elytron.
Pronotum
The exoskeletal plate on the upper side of the first segment of the thorax of an insect.
Tarsus
On insects, the last two to five subdivisions of the leg, attached to the tibia; the foot. On spiders, the last segment of the leg. Plural: tarsi.
Tubercle
On plants and animals: a small, rounded, raised projection on the surface. On insects and spiders: a low, small, usually rounded, knob-like projection. On slugs: raised areas of skin between grooves covering the body.
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Dan W. Andree |
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This yellowish spotted beetle like insect... …was also out at Frenchman’s Bluff SNA this summer… I have no idea what it is. |
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Dan W. Andree |
Location: Frenchman’s Bluff SNA This yellowish spotted beetle like insect was also out at Frenchman’s Bluff SNA this summer… I have no idea what it is. |
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Created: 11/11/2024 Last Updated: © MinnesotaSeasons.com. All rights reserved. |