Arthropods Daily – Issue No. 497

The species in discussion is Rutpela maculata, which has various varieties, including calcarata, maculipes, nigricornis, seminotata, and more. It is found in Europe, the eastern Palearctic realm, and the Near East. The adults are around 13-20 millimeters in size and have a dark-brown head and pronotum, with yellowish elytra adorned with black dots and stripes that resemble wasps. The adults live for two to four weeks and are commonly seen on flowers, especially those of the Apiaceae family, feeding on pollen and nectar. The larvae are polyphagous and feed on various deciduous tree species. Another similar beetle is Clytus arietis.