Wasp-like Longicorn Beetle - Hesthesis variegata or Hesthesis bizonata
FAMILY CERAMBYCIDAE
This page contains information and pictures about Wasp-like Longicorn Beetles that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.
- Body length 20mm
- This Longicorn Beetle mimics a wasp (Eumeninae ) to gain protection. Besides its colours and body shape, the beetle moves like a wasp too.
- To mimic a wasp, the beetle evolutes the very short elytra (wing cover). There are the orange-yellow bands on its abdomen. On its 1st and 2nd abdomen segment there are the yellow edges to make it has the narrow-waisted look.
- When we came close to the beetle, the beetle put up different wasp-like postures and movement. After a few try and failed to scare us, the beetle flied away.
- We took those pictures on Oct 2004 in Yugarapul Park.
- On Dec 2005 we found the an insect resting on a She-oak tree Casuarinaceae. We though it may be a Wasp-like Longicorn Beetle but still afraid that it could be a real wasp. We came close very carefully then confirmed it was a wasp-mimicking beetle. We took only one photo before it flied away.
- Once learnt how to recognize this beetle, we found they are quite common in Brisbane. This set of photos were taken in Karawatha Forest Oct 2006.
- The beetle can be found feeding on flowers. Larvae related with Eucalyptus and Leptospermum.
- Reference:
- 1. Cerambycidae, subfamily Cerambycinae (Hesthesis bizonata)- lifeunseen.com, by Nick Monaghan.
- 2. Specimen Image Index - Insect Reference Collection Database - ICDB, Western Australian Department of Agriculture, 2006.
- 3. A guide to the Genera of Beetles of South Australia Part.7 - Matthews, E.G. & Reid C.A.M.Adelaide, Eureca Corporate Group. 1997, p 13.
