Musk beetle

Musk beetle
Musk beetle
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Cerambycidae
Subfamily: Cerambycinae
Genus: Aromia
Species: A. moschata
Binomial name
Aromia moschata
(Linnaeus, 1758)

The musk beetle (Aromia moschata) is a Eurasian species of longhorn beetle belonging to the subfamily Cerambycinae, tribe Callichromatini. Its name comes from the musky smell it emits.

Description

This beetle is characterised by a somewhat coppery or greenish metallic tint. The typical form, characterised by a metallic pronotum, is widespread in Europe, except for most of Spain and the Southern Italy. In such regions, in North Africa, and in Asia to Japan, the species is represented by some subspecies characterised by a more or less red pronotum. The antennae are longer than the entire head and body length in male and as long as body in females. Nevertheless, the Oriental subspecies have usually shorter antennae.

It can be found in Great Britain locally, for example Butomus umbellatus at Caldicot and Wentloog Levels otherwise known as Gwent Levels SSSI[1]

Biology

The adults are usually found on leaves, especially those of the willow trees, where the larva of this species lives.

Close-up of the mouthparts

References

  1. ^ Natural World Magazine, Spring 2009, The Wildlife Trust, published by Think publishing


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