# Red Pine Longhorn Beetle (*Stictoleptura rubra*) The Red Pine Longhorn Beetle is a bright red beetle with long antennae. It loves to live in pine trees and is often seen crawling on tree bark, making it a fun find for nature explorers! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Red Pine Longhorn Beetle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/XN_Stictoleptura_rubra_01.jpg&width=800) Photo: Guido Gerding, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:XN_Stictoleptura_rubra_01.jpg) ## Appearance The Red Pine Longhorn Beetle has a striking reddish-brown or orange body, often with darker wing covers (elytra) in males. Its most distinct feature is its incredibly long antennae, which can be longer than its body, helping it stand out from other beetles. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Coleoptera - **Family:** Cerambycidae - **Genus:** Stictoleptura ## Interesting facts - Adult beetles only live for a few weeks, focusing solely on mating and laying eggs. - Its larvae can live inside pine trees for years before turning into adults! - Males are often darker than females, with more brown or black wing cases. - They are excellent flyers, despite their somewhat clumsy appearance on the ground. ## Special abilities - **Wood Worker:** Red Pine Longhorn Beetle larvae can bore tunnels through tough pine wood because of their strong mandibles, which helps them create a safe home and find food. - **Pine Disguise:** Red Pine Longhorn Beetle has a reddish-brown color that helps them blend perfectly with pine bark and needles, making them tricky for predators to spot. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 24-40 mm - **Size:** 12-20 mm - **Lifespan:** 20-60 days - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Larvae munch on dead or dying pine wood, while adults feed on nectar and pollen from flowers. - **Age differences:** Larvae bore into and feed on dead conifer wood, while adults consume nectar and pollen from flowers. - **Primary Foods:** Dead Pine Wood (larvae), Pine Sap (larvae), Nectar (adults), Pollen (adults) - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Scots Pine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/scots-pine) (*Pinus sylvestris*) — Larvae bore into and feed on the wood of dead or dying pine trees. - **Eaten by:** [Great Spotted Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-spotted-woodpecker) (*Dendrocopos major*) — Woodpeckers extract beetle larvae from infested pine trees. - **Parasitizes:** Giant Ichneumon Wasp (*Rhyssa persuasoria*) — Wasp lays eggs on beetle larvae inside pine wood tunnels. ## Traits - [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. - [Horned](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/horned): Characterized by having one or more hard, permanent, pointed projections on the head. - [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. - [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 when exploring in the woods. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Red Pine 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 Red Pine Longhorn Beetle's wingspan? 24-40 mm ### How big is Red Pine Longhorn Beetle? 12-20 mm ### How long does Red Pine Longhorn Beetle live? 20-60 days ### What does Red Pine Longhorn Beetle eat? Larvae munch on dead or dying pine wood, while adults feed on nectar and pollen from flowers. ### Where is Red Pine Longhorn Beetle usually found? Forests ### How does Red Pine Longhorn Beetle hunt? Foraging ### How many legs does Red Pine Longhorn Beetle have? 6 ## 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: [Red Pine Longhorn Beetle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-pine-longhorn-beetle)