# The Tanner (*Prionus coriarius*) The Tanner is a big, brown beetle that loves to munch on wood! It has long antennae that help it smell and find food. You might spot it in forests or near trees. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![The Tanner](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Prionus_coriarius_080725.jpg&width=800) Photo: Accipiter , (R. Altenkamp, Berlin), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Prionus_coriarius_080725.jpg) ## Appearance The Tanner is a large, sturdy longhorn beetle, typically dark reddish-brown to black. It has broad, flattened body and distinctive, long antennae that are noticeably serrated or 'saw-toothed' along their edges. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Coleoptera - **Family:** Cerambycidae - **Genus:** Prionus ## Interesting facts - Did you know the Tanner beetle larvae can live inside wood for up to five years before they become adults? - Female Tanners lay hundreds of tiny eggs deep within decaying tree stumps. - Male Tanner beetles are often seen flying at night, zipping around streetlights searching for mates! - Their giant antennae can actually be longer than the beetle's entire body! ## Special abilities - **Wood-Chewing Power:** The Tanner larvae can chew through tough dead wood because of their strong mandibles, which helps them find food and shelter. - **Super Sniffer Antennae:** The Tanner has long, segmented antennae that help it detect mates and find suitable egg-laying sites from far away. - **Night Flight Master:** The Tanner can fly swiftly and expertly in the dark because of its powerful wings, helping it find new territories at night. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 50-100 mm - **Size:** 25-60 mm - **Lifespan:** 60-90 days - **Flight Speed:** 15 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adult Tanner beetles eat very little, but their larvae are busy munching on decaying wood! - **Age differences:** Larvae consume decaying wood, while adults typically do not feed or feed very little. - **Primary Foods:** dead wood, decaying roots, tree stumps - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Tawny Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tawny-owl) (*Strix aluco*) — Adult beetles are a nighttime snack. - **Hunts:** [Great Spotted Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-spotted-woodpecker) (*Dendrocopos major*) — Searches for larvae hidden in wood. - **Depends on:** Tinder Fungus (*Fomes fomentarius*) — Helps break down wood for larvae. ## 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. - [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. - [Giant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/giant): Giant describes organisms or objects of significantly larger size than average for their species or type. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [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 your fingers when exploring around trees and wood! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify The Tanner? 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 The Tanner's wingspan? 50-100 mm ### How big is The Tanner? 25-60 mm ### How long does The Tanner live? 60-90 days ### How fast can The Tanner fly? 15 km/h ### What does The Tanner eat? Adult Tanner beetles eat very little, but their larvae are busy munching on decaying wood! ### Where is The Tanner usually found? Forests ### How does The Tanner hunt? Foraging ## 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: [The Tanner: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/the-tanner)