Should I Stay or Should I Go?
A twin-banded longhorn beetle, Rhagium bifasciatum, looking like it is asking that immortal question from a 1981 recording by The Clash.
I discovered this little beetle trapped in the conservatory, so I rescued it and took it to the greenhouse, placing it on a tomato plant to photograph. It certainly did not want to sit still for long, attempting to fly off on a couple of occasions before I managed to get off a reasonable shot and then released it to the outside world. I think it had decided to go.
The pale yellow bands are on each of the elytra, which are modified hardened forewings that serve as protection for the hindwings. To fly, the beetle will open up the elytra and then extend the hindwings, flying while holding the elytra open. The beetle certainly made an impressive sight flying around inside of my greenhouse, but it was so quick that there was no way I would have been able to capture a shot of it in flight or even with the wings extended.
No twin-banded longhorn beetles were harmed in the making of this photograph.
Should I Stay or Should I Go?
A twin-banded longhorn beetle, Rhagium bifasciatum, looking like it is asking that immortal question from a 1981 recording by The Clash.
I discovered this little beetle trapped in the conservatory, so I rescued it and took it to the greenhouse, placing it on a tomato plant to photograph. It certainly did not want to sit still for long, attempting to fly off on a couple of occasions before I managed to get off a reasonable shot and then released it to the outside world. I think it had decided to go.
The pale yellow bands are on each of the elytra, which are modified hardened forewings that serve as protection for the hindwings. To fly, the beetle will open up the elytra and then extend the hindwings, flying while holding the elytra open. The beetle certainly made an impressive sight flying around inside of my greenhouse, but it was so quick that there was no way I would have been able to capture a shot of it in flight or even with the wings extended.
No twin-banded longhorn beetles were harmed in the making of this photograph.