Agapanthia villosoviridescens explained

Agapanthia villosoviridescens, also known as the golden-bloomed grey longhorn beetle,[1] is a species of beetle in the subfamily Lamiinae, found in the Caucasus, Europe, Kazakhstan, the Near East, Russia and Turkey.[2]

Description and habitat

The beetle is named for its golden-black colour, with a golden bloom on its elytron and thorax. It reaches a length of 10–.[2]

Habitat

Their flight time is from May to August.[2] For the larval development the species is quite polyphagous with a wide variety of hosts, probably including Aconitum, Angelica, Anthriscus, Artemisia, Aster, Carduus, Cirsium, Chaerophyllum, Eupatorium, Foeniculum, Gentiana, Helleborus, Heracleum, Peucedanum, Salvia, Senecio, Urtica and Veratrum album.[2] [3] The larvae develop in the stalks of the host plant, working their way down while growing, cutting off the stalk and creating pupal cells near ground level. Adults emerge through a newly cut exit hole in the side of the stalk.

Notes and References

  1. http://www.gardensafari.net/en_picpages/agapanthia_villosoviridescens.htm Common name
  2. http://www.cerambyx.uochb.cz/av.htm Description, distribution, and habitat
  3. Bense 1995, as per forum post on waarneming.nl