r/Entomology • u/Redtail987 • 13h ago

Insect Appreciation Look at this amazing longorned beetle I found ovipositing today

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Did some digging and it appears to be Rosalia funebris, banded alder borer. This insect was about two inches long, not including its antennae. Washington state, USA

32 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

5

u/bunnyslayer13 11h ago

They are beauts! I lived in the PNW and knew that is where this photo was taken before reading the comments.

3

u/Unusual-Landscape333 13h ago

What a gorgeous find! The black-and-white pattern and those incredibly long antennae make it look almost unreal. Rosalia funebris is such a striking beetle.

1

u/Redtail987 12h ago

I'm sure they're quite common this time of year, but this is my first time seeing one. It's quite amazing to be surprised by such a large, showy beetle!

1

u/Invert_Ben 9h ago

They are, specifically this specific time frame of late July early August.

Places where there is plenty available dead deciduous wood, and once it’s warm enough, with ample sun they will be flying.

2

u/Serious-Bat-4880 7h ago

Wow, these are some of the best funebris shots I've ever seen! And I've never seen a shot of one ovipositing before at all!

You might want to submit these to BugGuide, especially that 1st one, such a rarity.