Wasp Beetle (Clytus arietis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Clytus arietis

Adult Wasp Beetle (subspecies C. a. arietis) at Geddington, Northants - May 2016

Featured Subspecies: Clytus arietis arietis
Length: 9-18mm
UK Status: Not Evaluated / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

This is a species which has developed wasp like patterns to deter predators, being harmless itself but by mimicking something poisonous may put off predators, which is is able to back up by simulating a buzzing like noise.  As a larvae they feed on the wood of deciduous trees that have been invaded by certain fungi, and the adults then emerge in May, but have generally died by the end of Summer.

Related Species: 
Order: Coleoptera 
Family: Cerambycidae 
Genus: Clytus 
SUBSPECIES: C. a. arietis, C. a. cloueti, C. a. lederi, C. a. oblitus 

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A common resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Formosan Longhorn Beetle* (Olenecamptus formosanus)

OTHER NAMES: * This species does not have an English name, therefore, this name is speculative based on its latin name.

Latin Etymology: Olenecamptus (?) formosanus ("of Formosa" - ie. of the isle of Taiwan)

Adult Formosan Longhorn Beetle* (Olenecamptus formosanus) at Arashiyama, Japan - June 2013

Featured Subspecies: ?
Length: ?
UK Status: Not Present / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

This is another species that falls into the category of no official English name and very minimal information on it (in English at least) available online.  Although the latin name (and by extension, my own speculative English name) suggests it is a Taiwanese species, it is found at least in Honshu in Japan, where I encountered this individual.  It's habitat seemed to be the forest floor of the hillsides that led up to the Monkey Sanctuary at Arashiyama, although given we were walking up this hillside, I must admit I didn't really want to stop to look at it beyond a few quick photographs.  I noticed it in the first place for its unusual brilliant white shell, and the massive antennae which you unfortunatly cannot really see in this picture.

Related Species:
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Cerambycidae
Genus: Olenecamptus
SUBSPECIES: None - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

JAPAN - Japanese - 高さゴーシロー髪切り  /  Takasago-shiro-kamikiri

Resident seen in Summer..

 - KYOTO/OSAKA 2013 TRIP: A single individual at Arashiyama.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List,.RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .