Agapanthia cardui is a species of flat-faced longhorn beetle belonging to the family Cerambycidae, subfamily Lamiinae.
Agapanthia cardui adults grow up to 6- and can be encountered from April through July, completing their life cycle in one year.
Several subspecies of A. cardui are recorded in the entomological literature:
This beetle is present in most of Europe, in the Near East, and in the eastern Palearctic realm. In 2010, it was listed as occurring in 24 European countries.[1] It has since expanded into the UK; the first specimens were recorded from East Kent in May 2018.[2]
Agapanthia cardui are polyphagous in herbaceous plants, mainly feeding on Carduus nutans (hence the specific name) and Silybum marianum, as well as on Salvia, Urtica and Cirsium species.