| Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn (Agapanthia villosoviridescens (De Geer, 1775)) |
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Scientific name: Agapanthia villosoviridescens (De Geer, 1775) Common name: Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn French name: Agapanthie à pilosité verdâtre, Saperde à pilosité verdâtre. Order: Coleoptera Family: Cerambycidae Wingspan : Body size: 10-22 mm; The antennae are about the same length as the body. Biotope: Damp habitats, bushy areas and meadows. Geographic area: Europe, near East. Observation period : May to September. |
The complete Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn's body, including elytra, is covered with hair. The elytra are black and covered with yellow and grey. The head and the pronotum show black and yellow longitudinal stripes. The antennae are ringed with pale bluish grey and black. There is a possible confusion with Agapanthia dahli. You can tell this last species apart with its more reddish antennae (they are rather bluish on Agapanthia villosoviridescens) and with the tufts of long hairs on the tips of articles 3 and 4 of the antennae. Agapanthia asphodeli and Agapanthia kirbyi have elytra with a more uniform colour. Larvae grow in the stems of Asteraceae including Thistles, of Umbelliferae and Nettles (Urtica dioica). There is one brood per year. You can observe adults on flowers. |
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I have observed this Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn early in the morning near the bank of a pond. Many Umbelliferae grow in this area and, looking at the date, I guess that this insect had just emerged a short time ago. |
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No wind, a beautiful immobile insect, a good light, what can we expect more to take pictures …? And yet, I would have liked to have a good tripod and true macro lenses. |
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It has been very easy to measure the body size (without the antennae) of this Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn quietly landed on a leaf. I have found 15 mm. |
André Bon July 2018