Strangalepta Flower Longhorn Beetle

Strangalepta abbreviata

Like many flower longhorns, their narrow, tapering shape allows them to dive deep into blossoms to reach nectar that other beetles cannot access.

Scientific name: Strangalepta abbreviata
Taxonomy: Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Coleoptera › Cerambycidae › Strangalepta
IUCN Red List status: Least Concern
Population trend: stable
Biome: forest
Habitat: Deciduous and mixed forests, particularly near edges and sunny clearings with abundant wildflowers.
Diet: Adults feed on pollen and nectar from various flowers; larvae are saproxylic, feeding on decaying hardwood.
Range: Eastern North America, Southeastern Canada, Northeastern United States
Size: 10-14 mm in length
Lifespan: 1-3 years, with the majority of that time spent as larvae inside wood.
Active: diurnal
Threats: Deforestation and the over-manicuring of forests which removes the dead wood necessary for larval development.
Safe to approach?: Completely harmless to humans. These beetles are gentle pollinators and do not bite or sting. You can safely observe them on flowers at a close distance. If one lands on you, simply enjoy the moment or gently nudge it onto a nearby leaf.

Strangalepta is a genus containing only one species, Strangalepta abbreviata , a longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae.

Photo: Katja Schulz, CC-BY, via iNaturalist