Stenopterus rufus
This longhorn beetle spends up to two years developing as a larva inside dead branches, then lives only weeks as an adult visiting flowers.
| Where | Meadows, hedgerows and broadleaf forest edges |
|---|---|
| Size | 7 to 16 mm body length |
| When | May to July |
The head and pronotum are black and the body is covered in fine, velvety hair. The narrow wing covers are red with black at the base and tip, the legs are mostly red, and the antennae are nearly as long as the body.
Larvae bore into dead branches of oak, chestnut, walnut, cherry and several other broadleaved trees, taking about two years to develop before pupating in the wood. Adults fly from May to July and visit flowers, especially those in the carrot family.
Traits
Habitat
Woodland
Colour
Black, Red, Yellow
Active
Day
To people
Harmless to people; often seen feeding at flowers in sunny weather.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Similar in size, 6 to 14 mm, but females are entirely black and males have yellowish brown wing covers, lacking the red, black tipped elytra of Stenopterus rufus.
Questions
Is Stenopterus rufus dangerous to people?
Harmless to people; often seen feeding at flowers in sunny weather.
When can you see Stenopterus rufus?
Stenopterus rufus can be seen from May to July, by day.
Plate retouched from a photo by Francisco Welter-Schultes, CC0, Wikimedia Commons Licence
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Beetles›Longhorn beetles›Stenopterus
Last updated 2026-09-26. Every entry is checked against published sources.