A beetle from the Longhorn family (Cerambycidae), Grammoptera ruficornis [1],[Cerambyx.uochb.cz].
1. DISTRIBUTION
This is one of the most common Longhorns in the Netherlands [Soortenregister]. Every year this beetle is present in the garden in large numbers is one of the permanent inhabitants.
2. BEHAVIOUR
In spring and summer the beetle can be found on the flowers of Firethorn (Pyracantha) feeding on pollen and nectar. On warm days even small swarm may occur hovering the plants.
Like many Loghorns G. ruficornis nests in dead wood, to be exact under the bark of dead twigs, branches and thin stems of broadleaf trees and Zoals zoveel boktorren nestelt deze ook in dood hout, om precies te zijn onder de schors dode twijgen, takken en stammen in Loofbomen en shrubs [Bense 1995]. The cycle probably takes one year and pupation happens in spring in sapwood [Bense 1995].
The larvae feed centrally in the branches and later they create pupal cells perpendicular to the branch axis. The pupal cell leads directly under the bark surface and is not secured by any wad of frass as it is common in other Cerambycidae [Soortenregister].
The beetle is polyphagous on a large set of host plants and brood trees [Bense 1995],[Soortenregister] of which a great number are found in or in the direct vicinity of the garden:
| Plant | Present |
| Maple (Acer) | vicinity |
| Alder (Alnus) | vicinity |
| Berberis | ? |
| Hornbeam (Carpinus) | vicinity |
| Hazel (Corylus) | garden |
| Hawthorn (Crataegus) | – |
| Spindle (Euonymus) | – |
| Ash (Fraxinus) | vicinity |
| Ivy (Hedera) | garden |
| Walnut (Juglans) | – |
| Apple (Malus) | garden |
| Poplar (Populus) | vicinity |
| Prunus | – |
| Oak (Quercus) | vicinity |
| Ribes | garden |
| Acacia (Robinia) | – |
| Buckthorn (Rhamnus) | ? |
| Willow (Salix) | – |
| Cytisus (Sarothamnus) | garden |
| Lime (Tilia) | vicinity |
| Elm (Ulmus) | – |
3. IDENTIFICATION
The beetle is 3-7 mm long.
The following characteristics are used for identification [Bense 1995]:
Genus
- Antennae segments III + IV are together longer than V
- Eyes close to the jaw base, cheecks very short
- 3rd segment hindtarsus no longer than segments I and II
Species
- 2e antenna segment twice as long than wide
- Pronotum and elytra (wing covers) black
- Front legs almost entirely yellow-brown or black
- Middle and hindlegs often black with orange on the femora (thigh) base
- Antennae yellow-brown and black
- Antennae with medium length (no longer than elytra)
Female [Cerambyx.uochb.cz]
- Longer and wider than male
- Body silhouette (seen from above) parallel towards abdomen apex
Mannetje [Cerambyx.uochb.cz]
- Shorter and thinner than female
- Body silhouette (seen from above) weakly coverging towards abdomen apex
Literature
Cerambyx.uochb.cz Cerambycidae, Longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae, Coleoptera) of the West Palaearctic region, neighbouring territories and countries of the former Soviet Union presented by Michal Hoskovec, David Navrátil, Petr Jelínek and Martin RejzekSoortenregister Nederlands Soortenregister
Citation
Krischan, O.R., 2025. Grammoptera ruficornis. Kerfdier, www.kerfdier.nl. Accessed on 12 May 2025.
