The longhorn beetle, also called longicorns, is a member of the beetle family. There are 35,000 species of longhorn beetles described in scientific research.
The beetles get their name from their large antennae. These insects often have antennae that are larger than their bodies.
Their bodies are colored in different patterns and spots that can help differentiate one species from another.
What Does It Look Like?
The spotted longhorn beetle derives its name from the typical spots across its body.
They can grow up to 0.5-0.7 inches, with dark-brown heads and abdomen. Their elytra (the hardened endings of the second pair of wings) are yellowish.
There is a pattern of spots or stripes across their bodies. They have long, spiked antennas and live and feed on flowers.
The black and yellow longhorn beetle is more commonly called the Black-spotted longhorn beetle. It looks very much like a wasp.
These beetles use wasp-mimicry as protection against their natural predators. Their bodies give the appearance of the dangerous yellow jackets, whose painful stings are feared by many animals and even humans.
The spotted longhorn beetles are abundant in Europe, mainly in the Near East. If you are looking for these beetles, the best idea is to look at the areas of Austria, Bulgaria, Belgium, Spain, and Slovakia.
Their population will be high in the deciduous areas where they can find longhorn flowers to feed on and live around.
Majority of their lives are spent in the larval stage, inside rotten wood or dead trees. They are mostly found in deciduous trees like Quercus, Salix, Alnus, and Carpinus, among others.
The adult beetles can be seen during summer, active in the months of May to August. They live only for two to four weeks, laying eggs around hedgerow flowers.
The black-bodied beetles frequent flowers of Apiaceae species, feeding on their nectar and sometimes moving their pollen about as they fly around.
The larvae of these beetles can feed on different kinds of materials, making them polyphagous.
Spotted longhorn beetles are not poisonous or harmful in any way. They do not cause any trouble for humans since they cannot bite or sting.
Some longhorn beetles such as the asian longhorn beetle are considered pests because they bore tunnels in trees, leaving them hollow.
But in most cases, these insects are not much of a bother.
Are longhorn beetles destructive?
One of the largest long-horned beetles is the Asian longhorned beetle which is considered a destructive creature.
They are wood-boring insects that target maple and pine trees, among other hardwood trees. They can tunnel into their host trees, causing damage to the trees and disrupting nutrition.
How do I identify a longhorn beetle?
As the name suggests, longhorned beetles can be spotted by their large, pointy antenna that can sometimes be longer than their bodies.
There are different patterns for different beetles, depending on what species they belong to.
They can have a yellow body with black spots or white spots on a black body. If you are trying to identify one, look out for the spiny antennae.
How do you get rid of long-horned beetles?
Most types of longhorn beetles are not very harmful to trees or other creatures.
However, certain large species of beetles that can drill into hardwood trees can damage a tree from the inside out.
One effective way to get rid of these insects is to remove the tree or cut out the part that has been damaged.
Wrap Up
Spotted long-horned beetles are some of the most beautiful insects you can find sitting on flowers.
These creatures are not very difficult in deciduous forests around Europe.
And since they are not harmful in any way, you can easily enjoy their silent company, admiring the beauty of nature for a moment.
Thank you for reading!
Reader Emails
Over the years, many of our readers have sent in photographs of spotted longhorns, asking us to identify them.
Sample some of the pics and descriptions below.
Letter 1 – Spotted Longhorn from UK
Unidentified Insect
Location: South East Wales, UK
June 2, 2011 6:22 am
I found this insect in the garden today in Wales (2nd June 2011).
Can you please identify it for me?
Signature: Thank you very much.
Leptura maculata, the Spotted Longhorn
In anticipation of a short trip away from the office, we are preparing a series of images to post in our absence. Your letter will go live next week. This is a Longhorn Beetle in the family Cerambycidae, sometimes called the Longicorn Beetles, and we are nearly certain it is Leptura maculata, which we initially identified on the Garden Safari website and verified on the BioLib website where it is called the Spotted Longhorn.
Letter 2 – Spotted Longhorn from France
What is this bug?
Location: Ile de France, France
October 22, 2011 10:31 am
Hello,
I took this picture in july in a meadow and I have yet to figure out what it is.
Thank’s in advance!
Signature: NK
Spotted Longhorn
Dear NK,
This is one of the Longhorned Borer Beetles in the family Cerambycidae, commonly called Bycids among entomophiles. We believe it is one of the Flower Longhorns in the subfamily Lepturinae. We hadn’t much hope that we would be able to come up with a species for you, but as luck would have it, we believe we have correctly identified your beetle as Leptura (or the anagrammatical Rutpela) maculata based on this image from the Worldwide Cerambycidae Photo Gallery. According to BioLib, the species is called the Spotted Longhorn.
Letter 1 – Spotted Longhorn from UK
Unidentified Insect
Location: South East Wales, UK
June 2, 2011 6:22 am
I found this insect in the garden today in Wales (2nd June 2011).
Can you please identify it for me?
Signature: Thank you very much.
Leptura maculata, the Spotted Longhorn
In anticipation of a short trip away from the office, we are preparing a series of images to post in our absence. Your letter will go live next week. This is a Longhorn Beetle in the family Cerambycidae, sometimes called the Longicorn Beetles, and we are nearly certain it is Leptura maculata, which we initially identified on the Garden Safari website and verified on the BioLib website where it is called the Spotted Longhorn.
Letter 2 – Spotted Longhorn from France
What is this bug?
Location: Ile de France, France
October 22, 2011 10:31 am
Hello,
I took this picture in july in a meadow and I have yet to figure out what it is.
Thank’s in advance!
Signature: NK
Spotted Longhorn
Dear NK,
This is one of the Longhorned Borer Beetles in the family Cerambycidae, commonly called Bycids among entomophiles. We believe it is one of the Flower Longhorns in the subfamily Lepturinae. We hadn’t much hope that we would be able to come up with a species for you, but as luck would have it, we believe we have correctly identified your beetle as Leptura (or the anagrammatical Rutpela) maculata based on this image from the Worldwide Cerambycidae Photo Gallery. According to BioLib, the species is called the Spotted Longhorn.
Longhorn beetles can cause a lot of devastation to trees, so it is important to understand what natural methods can be used to eliminate them, including which predators might eat them.
There are thousands of species of beetles scattered around the globe, but there is one that catches the eye of people.
Longhorn beetles are infamous due to their nature of destroying trees by boring a large continuous network of tunnels in the tree barks.
The Longhorn beetles are considered a threat to the forest around the world. Although there are not many natural predators of these beetles, some countries like China are conducting research to understand these beetles better and to find out ways to eradicate them from the region.
In this article, we will discuss what kills these Asian longhorn beetles, both naturally and artificially.
Predators
There are a number of invertebrate species that prey on these Asian long-horned beetles and the beetle larvae, but only a few are termed as specific hunters of these species of beetles.
Several ant species are known to hunt them in the Indian region. The redwood ants are considered highly effective in putting a brake on the growing population of these longhorn beetles.
There are woodpeckers who largely consume these beetles and are responsible for the effective control of these species in China.
You will be surprised to know that the Chinese have started putting bird nests around the beetle-infested areas to encourage woodpeckers to come and hunt them.
Parasitoids
Parasitoids are attackers that try to kill and consume the egg or the larva. One of the known natural predators of the Asian longhorned beetle is the eulophid wasps.
The Aprostocetus fukutai is another prime egg parasitoid of these longhorn beetle. The larvae of D. Longulus can also be considered a threat to the Asian longhorn beetle larva.
The other known larval parasitoids are the braconid wasps and Dastarcus Longulus. These parasitoids live inside the host body, and they eventually end up killing the host itself.
Research is currently going on to find out if these parasitoids will work on Asian long-horned beetles.
Pathogens
A pathogen is a living organism that is capable of causing several diseases in its host.
Pathogens are of several types and usually include viruses, bacteria, and funguses. In the case of longhorn beetles, there are a few pathogens that can cause their death.
The fungus Beauveria bassiana is a pathogen that causes the death of long-horned beetles when it is injected into the holes that they make in trees.
Another pathogen B. brongniartii, which is from Japan, has also shown exceptional results in infecting and killing adult beetles.
There are many studies and experiments going on currently to find which pathogens are effective against the Anoplophora glabripennis (Asian longhorn beetle).
Nematodes
The entomopathogenic nematodes are also used to kill these Asian long-horned beetles.
Through studies, it was discovered that Steinernema bibionis and S. feltiae nematodes were effective in killing wood-boring beetles.
Other nematodes like S. feltiae are also under evaluation to determine their effectiveness in controlling these insects.
Despite the number of elements or creatures that kills these Asian longhorn beetles, there is a constant effort in trying to find more natural enemies for these insects.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get rid of longhorn beetles?
Longhorn beetles are tough to track; therefore, you must first put effort into spotting their nest. Try finding pencil-like holes in the bark of the infected trees.
Once you find them, fill all the holes with some timber injection gel, this will help to kill the beetles.
Also, having natural predators like woodpeckers or redwood ants around will also help you get rid of them.
Why are longhorn beetles a problem?
Longhorn beetles are a problem because they are capable of causing massive damage to healthy host trees.
The beetle larva spends a good amount of time tunneling through the bark of a tree, making it almost hollow from the inside.
In many cases, the tunneling is so intense that even a gust of wind can knock down an entire infested tree.
Can longhorn beetles bite?
Longhorn beetles can bite, but they usually don’t end up attacking humans or pets. However, you must note that their bites are capable of inflicting a high amount of pain which can last for hours.
Also, their bite can cause a blister in the wounded area. Therefore it is best to maintain a safe distance from these bugs and not mishandle them in any way.
Are longhorn beetles invasive?
The longhorn beetles are considered invasive in the western Europe region and some North American cities, especially in New York. Currently, these countries are making efforts to get rid of these beetles.
These insects can destroy entire trees by boring through tree bark and making them unhealthy and hollow. They can cause a huge economic impact by destroying useful trees.
Wrap Up
Longhorned beetles are a massive threat to forests and healthy growing trees. This is why there is a constant worldwide effort to reduce their damage by controlling the population.
While there are a few natural hunters of the Asian longhorn beetles, the population still continues to grow.
This is why studies are required to find external measures to control the infestation of these beetle species.
We sincerely hope that the information provided above was helpful for you in understanding what can be done to put a brake on such infestations.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article.
Reader Emails
Ever since longhorned beetles gained infamy in the US, there have been efforts to find a way to get rid of them.
Go through emails from our readers sharing their pics and experiences of longhorned beetles from various countries, inquiring about which predators can hunt them down.
Letter 1 – Longhorn Beetle from Thailand: Aristobia approximator
Bug from Thailand
I am a eucalyptus farmer here in Thailand and discovered a new beetle yesterday munching on my trees. Can you please identify it for me? Thanks in advance,
Don
Hi Don,
Before you decide to spend money to eradicate the Cerambycid Beetle or Longhorn Beetle, Aristobia approximator, from your eucalyptus grove, you should know that we located a framed mounted specimen online for $109.00, which may make raising the beetles more profitable than raising the trees.
Letter 2 – Longhorn Beetle from Panama: Acrocinus longimanus
Ides of March 2006
Hello Bugman,
I found this beetle in Buena Vista, Panama. His body was about 8 cm long, but the front legs were enormous. He made a funny grinding noise when you would pick him up. Like those old-fashioned, wind-up toys that sounded like grinding metal. Can you tell me what he is?
Thanks,
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
Our friend Monica from Switzerland just mailed us a beautiful book called Living Jewels by Poul Beckmann, and plate 28, Acrocinus longimanus, is a dead ringer for your beetle. The book lists it from Peru, and BugGuide pictures a specimen from Ecuador.
Update from David Gracer (05/31/2006) www.slshrimp.com
Longhorn Beetle from Panama: Acrocinus longimanus
The larvae of this species is eaten throughout much of Mexico and South America; like that of other big Cerambycids (Macrodontia, for example), such a meal would be both good-sized and, one might say, expensive. The grubs are large, and the adults that the larvae would otherwise become would fetch considerable sums of money as mounted specimens. Also worth noting: insects that feature complete metamorphosis – beetles, lepidopterans, flies, etc – are far more often consumed in the last-instar larval and pupal stages than the adult stage. The previous stages have a lot more protein and fats, which provide the fuel necessary to transform the insect into the imago stage (and would therefore make the potential food item more desirable in terms of both taste and nutrition.)
Letter 3 – Longhorn Borer Beetle
Black & white beetle ID
Great site! I’ve got photos of a beetle than I can’t find any ID on. It was found walking around on our deck last June. I’m assuming it’s some kind of borer or blister beetle? I’d be grateful for an answer so I can put a label on this stock photo!
Daryl Ann Anderson
Alston, Michigan
Hi Daryl,
This is one of the Longhorn Beetles, but will check to see if Eric Eaton can provide anything more specific. Here is Eric’s reply: ” The longhorn is actually some species in the genus Neoclytus, though I don’t know which one specifically. This genus is in a different subfamily (Cerambycinae).” Then Eric wrote back: ” Oh, the Neoclytus longhorn could also be in the genus Xylotrechus. I consulted a book on longhorns and got more confused. Hahaha! It would be in one of those two genera, though.”
Update While Eric was busy identifying the beetle, Daryl who wrote the original letter did a good job of researching as well, discovering this link to Xylotrechus undulatus:
I found it!!! Click here… What do you think?
Letter 4 – Longhorn Beetle: Synaphaeta guexi
What’s that Cerambycid?
Hi Bugman,
Thanks for being here. Talking to people about insects is part of my job and I am spreading the word about your wonderful site. I was asked to identify this long-horned beetle, but I have only limited collection information. It was found at a residence in a new subdivision north of Yuba City, California, approximately 45 miles due north of Sacramento in the Central Valley. I don’t know if it was associated with hardwoods or softwoods, but I do know that the neighborhood is a new subdivision and most of the landscape trees in the area are young hardwoods with stone fruit orchards within a mile. The body length is 1.5 centimeters. Thank you for your help,
Margaret Stelmok
Hi Margaret,
We are turning to Eric Eaton for help with your Cerambycid, and await his reply. Here is his response: ” The cerambycid is another Synaphaeta guexi. Boy, this must be their year!”
Letter 5 – Longhorn Beetle
Want to know what this is…
What kind of insect is this?
David P. Summers, SETI Institute
NASA Ames Research Center
Moffett Field, CA
Hi David,
You have told us much more about yourself than you did about the Cerambycid Beetle in your photo. We do not want to assume that because you are in California, that your Longhorn Beetle is also from California. We would really like to try to identify the species and would appreciate confirmation that the beetle was photographed in California. It really is a strikingly beautiful specimen. We will check if Eric Eaton recognizes it.
Hi, Daniel:
Yes, the longhorn beetle is Crossidius coralinus, a common species in arid lands of the western U.S. Adult beetles in the genus Crossidius in general can be abundant on late summer composite flowers, especially rabbitbrush. I believe the larve feed in the roots of sagebrush, but don’t quote me there.
Eric
It wasn’t photographed in California. The photo was taken in Zion National Park, Utah, on the Paarus Trail (in the early afternoon?). The Paarus trail winds long the Virgin river at the bottom of the canyon. If it matters, it was bright and sunny but there had been a brief but heavy shower a couple hours before.
David
Letter 6 – Longhorn Beetle from Panama: Acrocinus longimanus
Hello Bugman,
I found this beetle in Buena Vista, Panama. His body was about 8 cm long, but the front legs were enormous. He made a funny grinding noise when you would pick him up. Like those old-fashioned, wind-up toys that sounded like grinding metal. Can you tell me what he is?
Thanks,
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
Our friend Monica from Switzerland just mailed us a beautiful book called Living Jewels by Poul Beckmann, and plate 28, Acrocinus longimanus, is a dead ringer for your beetle. The book lists it from Peru, and BugGuide pictures a specimen from Ecuador.
Update from David Gracer (05/31/2006) www.slshrimp.com
Longhorn Beetle from Panama: Acrocinus longimanus
The larvae of this species is eaten throughout much of Mexico and South America; like that of other big Cerambycids (Macrodontia, for example), such a meal would be both good-sized and, one might say, expensive. The grubs are large, and the adults that the larvae would otherwise become would fetch considerable sums of money as mounted specimens. Also worth noting: insects that feature complete metamorphosis – beetles, lepidopterans, flies, etc – are far more often consumed in the last-instar larval and pupal stages than the adult stage. The previous stages have a lot more protein and fats, which provide the fuel necessary to transform the insect into the imago stage (and would therefore make the potential food item more desirable in terms of both taste and nutrition.)
Letter 7 – Longhorn Borer Beetle from Japan
Big Beetle from Japan (longhorn beetle?)
Location: Tokyo, Japan
July 10, 2011 2:11 am
Dear Bugman and friends,
Hi! My friend and I photographed this bug at night on July 3, 2011 at Chinzan-so Garden in Tokyo. Its body was about 3 inches long from nose to tail, and the spread of its antennae was quite a bit more than that. It wasn’t terribly colorful, but it was impressively big. This is the biggest bug I’ve seen in person that was not in a zoo. Do you know what it might be? We thought it might be a longhorn beetle of some sort, but from my scan research, it seems those seem to run a bit smaller than this guy. Thank you so much!
Signature: Corky Visminas
Longhorn Borer Beetle
Hi Corky,
This is indeed a Longhorned Borer Beetle in the family Cerambycidae. Our initial search did not produce any similar images. Perhaps one of our readers will supply a comment with an identification.
Letter 8 – Longhorn Borer Beetle: Ipochus fasciatus
Subject: Maybe a Velvet Ant?
Location: California
October 27, 2014 5:01 am
I found this strange little guy (or gal) in my back yard. Couldn’t figure out what it was even after exhaustive searching (Mainly me typing Furry Ant-Spider Hybrid into various image search engines and forums), hopefully you may recognize it. In terms of size, it looked to me to be about 1cm long. I took pictures from a couple angles, it is a remarkable looking little thing, would love to know what it is! Thanks!!
Signature: Ace
Furry Bycid is Ipochus fasciatus
Hi Ace,
This is a Longhorned Borer Beetle in the family Cerambycidae, not a Velvet Ant. The furry covering is quite unusual for the family, but we did post a similarly hairy Bycid from Puerto Rico in January from the genus Ecyrus. We searched the genus Ecyrus on BugGuide and found only representatives in Eastern North America, but we expanded the search to include other members of the tribe Pogonocherini and that led to a single mounted specimen of Lophopogonius crinitus that is pictured on BugGuide. We also located images of mounted specimens on A Photographic Catalog of the Cerambycidae of the World.There is not much information on this species online. We have contacted Eric Eaton to get a second opinion of the identification.Are you able to provide us with a county or city location?
Thank you so much! It feels so good to finally know what it is hahaha! The location is Santa Cruz, right along the coast, if that helps add to info about it’s geographical spread. Thank you again so much!!
Letter 9 – Longhorn Borer Beetles
Subject: Cerambycid I.D.
Location: Madera Canyon Road, Arizona
October 24, 2015 1:42 am
I found a number of these beautiful small cerambycids on Baccharis bushes on the side of the road going to Madera Canyon in Southern Arizona. Can you identify them for me? Thanks.
Signature: Bill King
Longhorn Beetles possibly mating
Hi Bill,
Judging by the number of legs and antennae evident in your image, there appears to be another individual hidden, so you may have documented this lovely individual mating. We found it pictured on FlickR and there it is identified as Sphaenothecus bivittata. According to Valerie’s Austin Bug Collection: “The mate finding strategy of S. bivittata is rather flamboyant. Males position themselves on the highest tips of branches on flowering shrubs or small trees and keep lookout for females. Their long thin antennae wave in the wind. When females arrive, the males are quick to take action and they frequently mate while the females feed.” According to BugGuide: “Larval hosts: Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and Roses (Rosa spp.)”
Letter 10 – Longhorn Borer Beetle: Parandra polita
Subject: Whats this bug
Location: Western pa
July 9, 2017 5:06 pm
Whats kind of bug is this?
Signature: Thank you james
Longhorned Borer Beetle: Parandra polita
Dear James,
This proved to be a bit of a challenge because your beetle does not really resemble other members of its family Cerambycidae, the Longhorned Borer Beetles . Luckily we identified it as Parandra polita in Arthur Evans marvelous book Beetles of Eastern North America. We verified that identification on BugGuide. According to BugGuide: “Larvae in heartwood of hickory, tuliptree, beech.” In his blog Beetles in the Bush, Ted C. MacRae provides this account: “As I did, I noticed a reddish-brown, large-mandibled beetle sitting on the sheet that, for all intents and purposes, looked like a small stag beetle. I wasn’t fooled, however, as I knew exactly what this beetle was—I had previously seen this species in the form of two individuals at a blacklight in southern Missouri very near to my current location (although it was 28 years ago!). It was Parandra polita, an usual longhorned beetle belonging to the archaic subfamily Parandrinae, and those specimens (MacRae 1994) plus another collected more recently a few miles north—also at a blacklight in wet bottomland forest along the Mississippi River (McDowell & MacRae 2009)—to date represent the only known occurrences of this uncommon species in Missouri.”
There is a new enemy that is terrorizing America – a bite-sized insect that can take down entire trees! Here’s how the Asian Longhorned Beetle found its way here, and why it is so dangerous.
“Give me your tired, your poor, / Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”
When Lazarus wrote these words, little did he know that the Asian Longhorn Beetle would also one day heed the call!
Hide your trees and do your best to keep them from the Asian Longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis).
This wood-boring beetle arrived in America in the 90s and has since wreaked absolute havoc on hardwood trees like oak, teak, and mahogany.
But how did it get here, and why is the government so afraid of this tiny bug? Let’s find out.
Where Is The Asian Longhorn Beetle From?
The shiny black adult beetle with some irregularly shaped white spots and rather long antennae (hence the name longhorn) on its body is native to China and Korea, both Asian countries.
It is also present in other parts of Asia, such as Japan and the Indian subcontinent.
It devoured numerous species of trees, such as poplars, sugar maples, elms, and mulberries, in its homeland. In America, it has found a whole new set of trees to take over.
Where Was It Found in the US?
In the United States, this beetle first came to be known when it was found quite literally taking the life out of ornamental trees in major urban centers like Chicago and New York City.
Since 1996, detections of this exotic species have been made across most states located in the Northeast United States and California.
The Asian Longhorned Beetle was again discovered in Chicago in 1998 and in Jersey City, NJ, in 2002. It made its way to Middlesex and Union counties, New Jersey, in 2004.
Two years later, the insect had already been found touring Staten Island and Prall’s island in the Hudson River.
Fast forward two years and the Asian longhorned beetle reached Worcester and the urban and rural forests of Massachusetts too. In 2011, the beetle was yet again found in Tate Township, Ohio.
In 2020, these beetles were detected in South Carolina.
How Did The Asian Longhorn Beetle Become Invasive?
The beetle is originally found in Asian countries such as Korea and China.
But these wood-hollowing insects traveled from these countries to America by conveniently boarding cargo shipments from China.
They snuck into wood pallets and wood packing materials in these shipments and found their way into the United States.
Unfortunately, the wood used for these boxes and packaging material was untreated, which made it easy for the bugs to hide in them.
In a couple of years, their presence had spread throughout North America like an uncontrollable wildfire.
Why Is There So Much Fuss About This Species?
The Asian longhorned beetle is an Asian native, and yet, it has successfully established itself in America. It has firmly put its legs into the major cities of the continent and refuses to budge.
The larvae of the female beetles devour the wood of trees, their stems, branches, and roots.
They create long galleries inside the tree that eventually snuff out its life. These tunnels hollow the tree out from the inside, leaving nothing but a shell that even a slow wind can take down.
From egg to adult, its life stages take one to three years. Adult beetles come out from trunks and branches by eating their way out and leaving behind enormous, circular holes (0.2-0.5 inches in diameter).
As the insect is new to America, nature has not evolved any natural predators for it here.
The trees in America are ill-prepared to adapt and survive against this species. The damage caused to trees can cause branches to break off or the foundation of trees to give way and fall on unsuspecting pedestrians and cars nearby.
It has become an issue of public security, and despite the hard work put in by many scientists, agencies, and the USDA forest service, the efforts are still on.
The only solution, for now, is to chop off the infested trees.
Economic Impact of Its Infestation
Street and backyard trees have been severely affected by these beetles.
With no proper solution in sight (except perhaps prevention), the infested trees have been removed, destroyed, or replaced at whopping prices (around $100 per infestation).
For example, in New York, damage to maple trees can lead to a catastrophic impact on the maple syrup industry, leading to billions of dollars in damages.
If these beetles are allowed to expand beyond their current range into national forests, it could have dire consequences for the whole economy since they could hollow out millions of acres of hardwood trees.
With the cumulative negative impact on the export of various hardwood-made products and eradication and containment costs, these beetles could single-handedly deliver a mighty blow to the American economy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the Asian long-horned beetle come from
The long-horned beetle is an exotic species commonly found in Asian countries like China, Korea, and Japan.
It has easily acclimated itself to the American weather and continues to establish itself in the major cities of the continent.
Efforts are on to find a way to eradicate this pest, or at least contain the menace to the cities where it has established itself.
How did the Asian longhorned beetle get to California?
It all started with unchecked wooden cargo shipments from China. These beetles bored holes inside the untreated wooden packing materials and reached the shores of America safely.
Initially, they were discovered in New York City, but soon they were detected in California too, and they are now present in many urban centers.
How does the Asian longhorned beetle travel?
The Asian longhorn beetle usually spends its entire life inside the host tree, which it infests. However, it does have wings in its adult stage and can fly a good distance if needed.
Flying or else infesting wood packing materials are the two ways through which it has been spreading across America.
Can long-horned beetles fly?
Yes, the Asian longhorned beetle can fly up to 8.5 miles if it is well-fed and strong. Their average flight distance, however, is around 1.4 miles.
This is another major problem why we are not able to stop this insect from spreading quickly and are ending up having to destroy entire trees to contain it.
Wrap Up
The Asian Longhorned Beetle is a wanderlust at heart. America, for sure, is ticked off its bucket list. Who can blame these beetles for wanting to live the American Dream?
These insects spell doom for trees and, for now, are seemingly invincible. When will a tangible solution come up? When will our trees be free of these pests? The answers are not yet known.
But hopefully, their reign of terror will soon be over.
Reader Emails
Asian longhorned beetles have been a subject of excitement among bug lovers ever since their destructive capabilities came to be known in America.
There have been relatively few sightings of these beetles here, but we are sharing some pics from our readers.
Letter 1 – Asian Longhorned Beetle or Starry Sky Beetle in Japan
Name our beetle in Japan? Hi! We are living in Kawatana, Japan on Kyushu island. This beetle was on our front porch on the 4th of July. He was approximately 2 1/2 inches long. We’d love to identify him! We are seeing so many new insects since we’ve been here. I have used your site to identify ONE of the many types of centipedes we have here, the house centipede. Hopefully I can catch a few more on camera to send to you. They move quickly though! …Thanks for your help! Rachel Hi Rachel, We are very happy your report is coming to us from Japan and not from the U.S. This is an Asian Longhorned Beetle or Starry Sky Beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis. Now that you know that, you will be able to find much information online including Wikipedia which reports the Asian Longhorned Beetle, which is called the Sky Oxen in China: “is native to China and other areas of eastern Asia, where it causes widespread mortality of poplar ,willow ,elm , and maple trees.” The Amazing Insects site reports: “Asian longhorned beetles is widely distributed in China, and in Japan and Korea Once introduced into an area, people unintentionally spread the beetle by cutting or trimming an infested tree and moving the wood elsewhere. To date, the Asian longhorned beetle has been found at 26 scattered warehouse and residential sites in 14 States around the country, including Cincinnati, Ohio. The only Asian longhorned beetle infestations of living trees are at Brooklyn, NY, Amityville, NY, and three neighborhoods in the Chicago, IL area.” The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Forest Site reports: “The Asian Longhorned Beetle, also known as the Asian Cerambycid Beetle, was first discovered in the United States in 1996, when it was found attacking maple and horsechestnut trees in New York City. Recently, three Chicago area infestations have also been detected, heightening concern among forest health professionals about the threat posed by this non-native pest. This beetle, known by the scientific name Anoplophora glabripennis, is native to Japan, Korea, and southern China. In Ohio, the insect has been found associated with solid wood packing and crating materials, however, an infestation of living host trees has never been detected in the state. ” If our readership sees this beetle in the U.S. it should be reported to the local office of the US Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service or USDA APHIS.
Letter 2 – Asian Longhorned Beetle or related species from Hong Kong
Bug from Hong Kong Tai po Location: Tai Po, Hong Kong July 10, 2011 3:24 pm Hi my uncle found this in his house, and i wanted to know what this was Signature: Nathan W
Asian Longhorned BeetleHi Nathan, This is the Asian Longhorned Beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis, also known as the Starry Sky Beetle. The Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health website has a profile on this species which indicates: “Asian longhorned beetle is native to China and other nearby Pacific Rim countries. It was introduced in Chicago, Illinois and the New York City area through solid wood packing material from China. Domestically, movement of infested tree-based materials, including logs and firewood, can easily spread this insect. It is known to attack at least 18 species of hardwood trees including maple, birch, horse chestnut, poplar, willow, elm, ash, and black locust. Adult females chew out a place to lay their eggs forming oval to round, darkened wounds in the bark. Eggs are laid singly and they secrete a substance that hardens over and protects the egg. Larvae develop out of the eggs and chew banana-shaped galleries into the heartwood, on which they will feed in during fall and winter. The pale-yellow larvae are worm-like, elongate, and cylindrical with a varied texture on the underside; the eighth segment of the abdomen has a protruding structure. Pupae are off-white, 1 to 1 1/4 inch long and 1/3 of an inch wide. Adults emerge during the spring through large round holes (3/8″ diameter) that may occur anywhere on the tree including branches, trunk, and exposed roots. These exit holes can number in the thousands per tree. Adult beetles 1 to 1 1/2 inches long, shiny-black with white spots. They have black-and-white banded antennae that are at least as long as their bodies. The upper sections of the legs of the adults are whitish-blue. Asian longhorned beetle can be distinguished from related species, such as citrus longhorned beetle, by the markings on the wing covers and the pattern of the antennae. Asian longhorned beetles require between one to three years to reach maturity.” It is not considered an Invasive Exotic species in Hong Kong.An Alternate Opinion Are you sure that’s not a different Anoplophora species, like A. chinensis (the citrus longhorn you refer to in the comments)? A. chinensis has a white scutellum and rough pitting at the top of the elytra, vs. completely glabrous wing covers and black scutellum on ALB. The angle’s not good but I swear I see some pitting, plus I am pretty sure the scutellum’s white in that photo. There may be addition species in the genus in their native range that I am not familiar with, too. (Note my attached image is off the net, wouldn’t let me submit this without an image.) Signature: Jenn Forman Orth Dear Jenn, Thanks for your alternate opinion. We are not certain that we have the species correct. We could not locate the image you attached online, so we are linking to an Invasive Species website with a photo of the Citrus Longhorn.
Letter 3 – Probably White Spotted Sawyer, NOT Asian Longhorned Beetle
Subject: Aisan Longhorn beetle? Location: Ontario, Canada June 19, 2013 2:36 pm Just a couple of days ago I found this bug on my deck. I know southern Ontario has been battling with the Aisan longhorn beetle for about 10 years… I am waiting for a call back from the Canadian food inspection agency who has been dealing with the problem bugs… However I found that in April of this year it was announced they had finally erraticated the bug. I hope this isn’t one but I’d like to know if it is or isn’t and if it isn’t what kind is it? Thank you in advance Signature: Cassandra Nieves
Asian Longhorned Beetle or Not???Dear Cassandra, Your beetle resembles an Asian Longhorned Beetle, but we cannot say for certain if it is an invasive species or a native species in the same family. We wish your photograph had more detail. The elytra do appear to have white spots on a black background and the antennae do appear to be striped black and white. Perhaps one of our readers will be able to provide conclusive information on the identity of the Longhorned Beetle in your photo. Please let us know what the Canadian authorities have to say.
Spider wasps look fearsome and have an intimidating reputation to boot. But are spider wasps dangerous to humans, or have they been unfairly maligned? Let’s find out
When added to the name of any insect, the word wasp immediately creeps out most people. But if you add the word spider on top, the effect is magnified!
Despite its name and threatening appearance, spider wasps feed on nectar and aren’t aggressive at all.
The spider wasp belongs to the Insecta class of the Arthropoda Phylum. These insects (they are wasps, not arachnids) are also known as pompilid wasps because they are part of the Pompilidae family.
Found all across the world, there are over 5,000 species of spider wasp spread across six distinct subfamilies.
These wasps get their name from their ability to capture and paralyze spiders, often twice their size, and use them as fodder for their larvae.
What is This Bug?
Spider wasps are solitary insects. Each female works alone to create her own nest and rear her family instead of making a nesting colony like most bees.
Spider wasps are most often nectarivores. These charcoal-black flying bugs feed themselves by sucking nectar from flowers and overripened fruits.
Despite their daunting appearance, they are seldom aggressive since they don’t have a colony to defend.
The most commonly found species of spider wasps in North America is Cryptocheilus bicolor. Their trademark orange band on the abdomen and bright-colored wings and legs help to identify them quickly.
These wasps predominantly live in wetlands, heath, forests, and dense woodlands. In particular, you might often find them near tree barks and crevices inside them.
What Do They Look Like?
Spider wasps usually have visible veins (venations) on the wings, groves, and bands.
Most adult spider wasps have either amber or dark grey wings, yellow-orange legs, and a distinctive pair of antennae.
They also have a pair of spines on the hind limbs pointed toward the foot.
The wasps have three pairs of legs on the thorax and abdomen. Their body is tube-shaped and has plates covering both sides.
The female wasp is larger than the male. It can grow up to 1 inch in size, while male wasps usually do not extend beyond 0.5 inches.
Why Are They Called Spider Wasps
They are commonly known as spider wasps because of a very peculiar habit. Even though the adult spider wasp usually feeds off only nectar from flowers, the females also attack spiders.
They tranquilize them with a venomous sting and then drag them back to their nest. The paralyzed spider, still alive, become food for the wasp’s larvae.
This strange behavior only occurs when they are ready to lay their eggs, and infact they lay the eggs on the spiders’ abdomen itself.
Are They Harmful To Humans?
Spider wasps are known to tackle spiders twice their size and weight. However, their aggression is limited only to spiders and other spider wasps (during mating).
These wasps usually avoid bigger predators and humans and fly away when they detect danger. They rarely show threatening behavior towards humans.
Spider Wasp and Wolf Spider Prey
How Painful is the Sting of Spider Wasp?
Though most spider wasps are not very aggressive, a few species can have an excruciating sting. The tarantula hawk species has one of the most painful stings in the world.
Created by an entomologist named Justin O. Schmidt, the Schmidt Pain Index rates their sting at the highest value of 4. While a 0 rating indicates a painless sting, a 4 is the most severe sting in the world.
Schmidt described the sting of a tarantula hawk as the most excruciating torture of a burning sensation combined with a constant electric shock.
The only other insect rated with a more painful sting is the South African bullet ant, and the reason is that their pain can last a whole day, while that of the tarantula hawk lasts only a few minutes.
Are They Poisonous or Venomous?
Spider wasps have defensive stingers that inject venom to paralyze prey. This allows them to carry the spider easily into their nest.
The paralysis can last anywhere between a few hours to weeks. If the larvae do not hatch from the egg till then, the spider might be able to walk away from its ordeal.
Unfortunately, this is rarely the case.
The venom includes alpha and beta pompildotoxin that disrupts the functioning of the spiders’ cortical neurons, causing the spiders to go into a comatose state.
So, yes, they do have venom in their sting. However, this venom does not impact humans or other vertebrates who have different neurological setups.
Are They Aggressive?
Interestingly the spider wasp belongs to the same family as the dangerous Hornet Wasp, but their temperaments are entirely different.
Spider wasps are nervous flyers that seldom come in contact with humans. They are the least aggressive, especially towards bigger animals, unless someone provokes them.
If disturbed, they can deliver a very painful sting. However, if left alone, their aggression is solely focused on spiders.
What Can You Do if A Spider Wasp Stings You?
Spider wasps sting is harmless for those who do not have any allergic conditions to bug and wasp stings.
However, if you are allergic, it is important to report to the nearest medical center and seek help immediately.
An allergic reaction might result in an anaphylactic shock, so it is important to keep an epinephrin injection on yourself when you are around bees and wasps.
The normal localized reaction after being stung includes redness, swelling, itchiness, burning sensations, and hives in a few cases.
Severe symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, etc.
Here is what you can do to mitigate the problem:
The first step is to immediately look for any stingers embedded into the skin and remove them with a tweezer or any such device but never with bare hands.
Clean the area well and disinfect before applying a cold pack to reduce swelling and localized rise in temperature.
Take Antihistamine or corticosteroid ointment application to reduce the discomfort.
Over-the-counter Acetaminophen should also be taken to reduce the pain.
How To Control Them in Your Home or Garden?
Spider wasps are solitary insects; hence they are never seen in clusters or groups. Once identified, the easiest solution is just swatting them away or killing them.
However, it isn’t easy to find the nest of a wasp. If you find one, localized spraying with anti-wasp aerosols can help immediately remove the nest and the wasp.
Take care to do this at night since the wasps are inactive at that time.
Do not use any insecticides. Using pesticides in the garden can cause the death of naturally found beneficial insects such as beetles and ladybugs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if you get stung by a spider wasp?
Spider wasp bite is not life-threatening for humans. It can only cause localized reactions like pain, swelling, hives, etc.
It can generally be treated with ointments, creams, and over-the-counter medications like analgesics and antihistamines.
In the rare instance of an allergic reaction or shock, its important to seek medical intervention immediately.
The most common sign of a severe reaction to a wasp sting is shortness of breath, extreme uncoordinated movement, rise in body temperature, hives, etc.
Do spider wasps bite or sting?
Spider wasps do not have claws or mouthparts to bite. However, they have stingers that they use to deliver extremely painful stings by injecting venom into the skin.
The Spider wasp sting can be excruciatingly painful and lasts anywhere between 3 to 5 minutes.
Where are spider wasps located?
Spider wasps are found all over the world. With over 5,000 species spread across six subfamilies, these insects are a common sight in most gardens, wetlands, and even amidst dry arid conditions of the deserts.
What is the fastest way to heal a wasp sting?
The easiest way to deal with the pain caused by a wasp sting is to remove the stinger, disinfect the area and follow it with an ice pack compression.
A cold compress can reduce the burning sensation and swelling caused by the sting. Follow it with a localized steroidal or antihistamine ointment.
Scary, But Not Aggressive!
With its fearsome-looking body, a spider wasp can be an alarming sight in your lovely garden.
However, these wasps pose little threat to humans and can be left alone.
If your garden is infested with spiders and other arachnids, welcoming a few spider wasps can even do your garden good. Thank you for reading!
Reader Emails
Spider wasps can leave behind a nasty sting. But while it will hurt humans for a bit, it won’t cause any permanent damage.
Many of our readers have been stung by these bugs in the past, read all about their experiences in the letters below.
Letter 1 – Spider Wasp (Tachypompilus ferrugineus) with Rabid Wolf Spider prey
a picture for you
I saw this wasp dragging the spider through my backyard. I live in
central NJ. The spider’s body was about an inch long and in think it’s called a Rabid Wolf Spider. Do you know what kind of wasp this is? Is the wasp going to eat the spider?
Pete
Hi Pete,
This Spider Wasp is Tachypompilus ferrugineus. It is not going to eat the Rabid Wolf Spider. The spider will be a food source for the larval wasps.
Letter 2 – Ichneumon
Striped antenna scavenger
Sun, May 3, 2009 at 8:09 PM
Hi Bugman,
I was in local park and saw this bug running around over leaves. It was moving its antennas over everything it ran over like it was trying to feel and detect food. I had never seen a bug quite like this and was wondering what it was. I scared it at one point and it flew away. Thanks and keep up the good work.
Inquiring Mind
Cary, NC
Ichneumon Wasp
Dear Inquiring Mind,
WE are relatively certain that this is a Spider Wasp in the family Pompilidae. According to BugGuide: “Adults are usually found on flowers or on the ground searching for prey.” This seems to accurately describe the behavior you witnessed. The doubt we are having has to do with the wings. BugGuide indicates: “Wings not folded flat on top of abdomen” and your specimen appears to have flat folded wings. There are 8 pages of genera listed on BugGuide, and our quick search did not provide any matches with striped antennae. We hope to get some input from Eric Eaton on this ID, and perhaps some reader can also provide a species or genus name for us.
Correction: Wed, 6 May 2009 17:36:40 -0700 (PDT)
Daniel:
The “spider wasp” is actually an ichneumon wasp:-) Fooled ya! Hey, everybody has been fooled by mimicry like this at one time or another. Spider wasps very rarely have banded antennae, but the tips of the antennae are sometimes a different color. Many ichneumons and sawflies do have banded antennae, however.
Eric
Letter 3 – Spider Wasp
Sphex nudus?
Location: Hawthorne, CA
August 20, 2011 6:02 pm
Hi,
I think, thanks to a hint that Eric Eaton posted on bugguide.net, that I have this properly identified as a Sphex nudus (Katydid wasp). Can you please confirm?
Signature: Thanks, Anna Carreon
Spider Wasp
Hi Anna,
Goodness, you have sent us a few tough identifications, and though we spent some time trying to research identities, we didn’t have much luck. We are not sure which comment attributed to Eric Eaton has caused you to believe this is a Katydid Wasp, but we are not certain the Katydid Wasp is found in California based on the BugGuide distribution map. There are similarities between your individual and the Katydid Wasp, and it is possible it is a similar looking relative that is not represented on BugGuide. We wish you had a photo that showed the face better. We believe this is most likely one of the Spider Wasps in the family Pompilidae, however, we were unable to find a match on BugGuide. These are the family characteristics that have influenced our opinion: “Typically dark colored with smoky or yellowish wings; a few are brightly colored. Slender with long and spiny legs, hind femora typically extending beyond tip of abdomen. Tibiae of rear legs have two prominent spines at apex (distal end, next to tarsi).” We will contact Eric Eaton to try to get his opinion.
Spider Wasp
Eric Eaton provides Spider Wasp identity Daniel:
Your first instincts are correct. This is a spider wasp, Episyron coterminus posterus: http://bugguide.net/node/view/146243/bgimage
Nice images, too.
Eric
Hi Daniel,
I’m sorry to have sent you tough identifications. You know, as I continued looking at distribution maps and the faces of the Katydid Wasps, I started to doubt my identifications. I figured I’d just wait to hear from you. Thanks very much. If you have a chance, will you please also thank Eric Eaton for me?
As I read more on this wasp, I’m surprised at how long it held still for me – almost 5 minutes. I really do have to think about getting a little better camera.
Anna
Letter 4 – Wasp Spider from Greece
Subject: What spider is that?
Location: Greece, Edessa
October 13, 2013 6:24 am
Greetings to the community…i found this spider in my garage and i have been wondering if its poisonous or not.
I am living in northen Greece, Edessa
I just want to know if i have to worry for more or not…cause i have never seen one like this! and Scout guy.
Thank you!
Signature: George Samouilidis
Wasp Spider
Hi George,
Your spider is a harmless Orbweaver, Argiope bruennichi, and it is commonly called a Wasp Spider. According to UK Safari: ” It’s a native spider of Mediterranean areas, and has only recently colonised England. Despite the warning colouration this is not a dangerous species. The wasp-like appearance is probably defensive, to deter predators.” The Spiders of Northwest Europe has some beautiful photos of the Wasp Spider.
Letter 5 – Spider Wasp: Tachypompilus ferrugineus
Subject: What insect is this?
Location: East Coast- Balt, Md
August 13, 2014 12:45 am
Found this suck roaming my kitchen floor at 3am?
What is it?
Signature: Dez
Spider Wasp: Tachypompilus ferrugineus
Dear Dez,
This Spider Wasp,Tachypompilus ferrugineus, appears to be dead since you have also included a ventral view with its legs sticking up in the air. Since you found it roaming, we are guessing it died at your hands. We believe living Spider Wasps, like this one pictured on BugGuide, are much prettier than dead ones. Spider Wasps are not aggressive toward humans, and in an effort to educate you and others on the importance all living creatures play in the complicated web of life on our planet, we are tagging this posting as Unnecessary Carnage.
Dead Spider Wasp
Letter 6 – Spider Wasp stings woman in Australia
Subject: Flying stinging bug
Geographic location of the bug: Perth Western Australia
Date: 03/04/2018
Time: 07:52 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman: My mother has been stung by this and I have no idea what it is
How you want your letter signed: Stinging bug
Spider Wasp, we believe
The antennae and the spines on the hind legs lead us to believe this is a species of Spider Wasp in the family Pompilidae, but alas, we have not had any luck locating any images online that look like your individual. Perhaps one of our readers will have better luck than we have had. According to Brisbane Insects: “Most of the Spider Warps [sic] are orange and black, black and grey/white markings or just black, i.e., the very strong warning colours. They usually have tinted wings, smooth and shiny body. Their hind-legs are long and always have two prominent spurs. They tend to coil their antennae. They usually hunting on ground with the characteristic wing flicking movement. Females have very powerful sting.”
Bug from Thailand
Ides of March 2006
Black & white beetle ID
What’s that Cerambycid?
Want to know what this is…
Hello Bugman,
Big Beetle from Japan (longhorn beetle?)
Subject: Whats this bug
Hi Rachel, We are very happy your report is coming to us from Japan and not from the U.S. This is an Asian Longhorned Beetle or Starry Sky Beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis. Now that you know that, you will be able to find much information online including 
Signature: Nathan W
Subject: Aisan Longhorn beetle? Location: Ontario, Canada June 19, 2013 2:36 pm Just a couple of days ago I found this bug on my deck. I know southern Ontario has been battling with the Aisan longhorn beetle for about 10 years… I am waiting for a call back from the Canadian food inspection agency who has been dealing with the problem bugs… However I found that in April of this year it was announced they had finally erraticated the bug. I hope this isn’t one but I’d like to know if it is or isn’t and if it isn’t what kind is it? Thank you in advance Signature: Cassandra Nieves
a picture for you
Striped antenna scavenger
Sphex nudus?
Subject: What spider is that?
Subject: What insect is this?
