Wasp Beetle

Clytus arietis

Date First Recorded in the Garden: 12/05/2023

Family Cerambycidae: The Longhorn Beetles

A large family of beetles, online sources suggesting 35,000 described species worldwide and a popular group due to the stunning appearance of so many of the adults. Typically they are wood (xylophagous) and plant (phytophagous) feeding species. Only around 70 species are recorded in the UK, which is a tenth of those recorded across Europe.

Wasp Beetle – Clytus arietis

The adults often visit gardens and umbels have been suggested as a favourite, but our first visitor was recorded on Oxeye Daisy. The larva are associated with a wide range of native trees and shrubs. Acer is one group of trees/shrubs associated with this species.

In the Garden

We do have an ornamental Acer in the garden but as likely as not our little visitor was associated with one of the many Field Maples growing in the nearby secondary woodland.