Longhorn Beetles

Among some of the most impressive Nottinghamshire beetles, are longhorn beetles. Longhorn beetles belong to the family Cerambycidae. There are currently 67 UK species, including some accidental imports. Several species are common and easily noticed due to their bright colouration. Most longhorns can be distinguished by their conspicuously long antennae which gives rise to the longhorn name. They are typically long bodied and long legged beetles. They also show a large size range and many are active by day when the adults generally feed on nectar and often visit the flowers of Hawthorn, Dogwood and Umbellifers along woodland rides. Longhorn larvae feed within the timber of woody plants (including that which is dead or decaying) and a couple of species are considered pests within coniferous plantations. Larvae are also sometimes imported from abroad within loads of timber.
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In the Sherwood Forest area, longhorn beetles are regularly encountered, but it was through photographing insects at Eakring that we first really became interested in them and their identification. Correct identification of most species is relatively straight-forward, although as with all insects, some degree of care has to be taken. By far the most impressively coloured longhorn is the truly exotic looking Saperda scalaris, which is shown above. It is a rare species and currently holds Nationally Scarce Grade A status, meaning it has only been recorded from 16-30 10km squares since 1980. Commoner longhorns include Leptura quadrifasciata and the Wasp Beetle Clytus arietis. Some species do have common names, but we have avoided using them here, because of the tendency for common names to have various regional variations. There are 15 species currently illustrated here, including the huge Aromia moschata (Musk Beetle). Several of these seem to be common and can be found in or around most Nottinghamshire woodlands. There are a few though, which we have only found within the Sherwood Forest area and there are many more species which we have yet to come across and photograph.

Leptura quadrifasciata

Rhagium bifasciatum

Photographed at Sherwood Forest CP 19/07/06

Photographed at Sherwood Forest CP early May 2006

Rhagium mordax

Rutpela maculata

Photographed at Warsop Wood, early June 2007

Photographed at Lound Wood, Eakring 30/06/05

Agapanthia villoviridescens

Clytus arietis

Photographed at Eakring Flash 05/06/05

Photographed at Red Hill, Eakring 25/05/06

Saperda scalaris

Arhopalus rusticus

Photographed at Bradmer Hill, near Market Warsop 05/06/07

Photographed at Lound Wood, Eakring 28/07/07

Stenocorus meridianus

Asemum striatum

Photographed at Lound Wood, Eakring 17/06/06

Photographed at Clipstone Old Quarter, May 2008

Leiopus nebulosus

Grammoptera ruficornis

Photographed at Sherwood Forest CP 01/06/08

Photographed at Eakring Flash 07/06/08

Poecilium alni

Anaglyptus mysticus

Photographed at Sherwood Forest CP 03/06/10

Photographed at Budby Pumping Station 23/06/10

Aromia moschata

Stenostola dubia

Photographed at Gamston Wood, Retford 24/07/10

Photographed at Wellow Park, 20/05/12

Rare and scarce Cerambycidae in Nottinghamshire The following list of scarce Cerambycidae have been recorded from the county. Source:- Nottinghamshire Local Biodiversity Action Plan - Appendix A: List of species of conservation concern in Nottinghamshire. S.Wright.

Acanthocinus aedilis		Nb
Anaglyptus mysticus		Nb
Aromia moschata		Nb
Gracilia minuta		pRDB2
Grammoptera variegata		Na
Leptura scutellata		Na
Phymatodes alni		Nb
Phytoecia cylindrica		Nb
Prionus coriarius		Na
Saperda carcharias		Na
Saperda scalaris		Na
Stenostola dubia		Nb

RDB1: Endangered. Species which have shown a rapid continuous decline over the last twenty years, and now exist in 5 or fewer 10km squares of the national grid.

RDB2: Vulnerable. Species likely to move into RDB1 in the near future, as most or all populations are declining. Found in 15 or fewer 10km squares since 1980.

RDB3: Rare. Species with small populations which are localised or thinly scattered, but not at present qualifying for RDB1-2. Found in 15 or fewer 10km squares since 1980.

RDBK: Species believed to be rare but too recently discovered to be categorised easily.

RDBI: Red data book indeterminate. Species believed to be rare, but for which data on their distribution is insufficient to allow a grade to be assigned.

Na: Nationally Scarce Grade A. Recorded in 16-30 10km squares since 1980.

Nb: Nationally Scarce Grade B. Recorded in 31-100 10km squares since 1980.

p indicates a provisional status. As in all lists, a name in bold type indicates UK Long List.

[ ] indicates species which have not been recorded in the County since the publication of The Invertebrate Fauna of Nottinghamshire by J.W.Carr in 1916. It is believed that these species are likely to still be present.