# Black-striped Longhorn Beetle (*Stenurella melanura*) The Black-striped Longhorn Beetle is a colorful insect with long antennae and striking black stripes. It loves to munch on plants and can be found in gardens and forests. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Forests, gardens ![Black-striped Longhorn Beetle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/%28MHNT%29_Stenurella_melanura_on_Rubus_ulmifolius.jpg&width=800) Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%28MHNT%29_Stenurella_melanura_on_Rubus_ulmifolius.jpg) ## Appearance The Black-striped Longhorn Beetle is slender with a black head and thorax. Its wing cases are typically reddish-brown or yellowish, each marked with a distinct black stripe down the middle. Its antennae are long, often exceeding its body length, helping it stand out from smaller flower beetles. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Coleoptera - **Family:** Cerambycidae - **Genus:** Stenurella ## Interesting facts - Not all Black-striped Longhorn Beetles have stripes; some males are entirely black! - Their grubs can spend up to two years hidden inside rotting wood before emerging. - These beetles are part of a huge beetle family with over 35,000 different species! - They love to visit sunny flowers, often found on white or yellow blossoms. ## Special abilities - **Super Sniffers:** Black-striped Longhorn Beetle has extremely long antennae that help them find mates, food, and sense their surroundings from afar. - **Armored Flight:** Black-striped Longhorn Beetle has hard wing cases (elytra) that protect its delicate flight wings and body as it navigates through plants. - **Wood Wonders:** Black-striped Longhorn Beetle larvae can bore tunnels through dead wood because of strong mandibles, which helps recycle nutrients in forests. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 9-20 mm - **Size:** 6-10 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-60 days - **Flight Speed:** 7 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adult beetles enjoy flower nectar and pollen, while their young munch on decaying wood. - **Age differences:** Larvae feed on decaying wood for several years, while adults primarily consume nectar and pollen. - **Primary Foods:** Nectar, Pollen, Decaying wood (larvae) - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — Adult beetles can be a tasty snack for birds. - **Pollinates:** [Yarrow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yarrow) (*Achillea millefolium*) — Adults visit flowers like yarrow for nectar and pollen. - **Eaten by:** [Great Spotted Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-spotted-woodpecker) (*Dendrocopos major*) — Woodpeckers might dig out their larvae from dead trees. ## Traits - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Be gentle and watch where you step, as insects can be small and easily missed. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Black-striped Longhorn Beetle? Look for hard wing covers meeting in a line down the back, then compare the antennae, body shape, legs and markings. Metallic colors shift a lot with lighting. Beetle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Black-striped Longhorn Beetle's wingspan? 9-20 mm ### How big is Black-striped Longhorn Beetle? 6-10 mm ### How long does Black-striped Longhorn Beetle live? 30-60 days ### How fast can Black-striped Longhorn Beetle fly? 7 km/h ### What does Black-striped Longhorn Beetle eat? Adult beetles enjoy flower nectar and pollen, while their young munch on decaying wood. ### Where is Black-striped Longhorn Beetle usually found? Forests, gardens ### How does Black-striped Longhorn Beetle hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Wildpark Bruderhaus](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/wildpark-bruderhaus) — Zurich, CH · Zoo ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Black-striped Longhorn Beetle Facts — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-striped-longhorn-beetle)