Stenurella melanura
This record describes Stenurella melanura (species). Recorded family: Cerambycidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
A small (6 to 10 mm) longhorn beetle. The elytra appears a golden tawny brown fading to black, all other parts including head and legs are black. Well wooded areas, parks and meadows where they will visit a range of flowering plants. Larvae bore longitudinal or undulating galleries in the sapwood of slender branches, trunks or decaying stumps, more especially in damp areas. Widespread in England, particularly in the south, less common elsewhere.
Wikipedia reference for Stenurella melanura: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stenurella_melanura.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera
- Family
- Cerambycidae
- Genus
- Stenurella
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Well wooded areas, parks and meadows where they will visit a range of flowering plants.
Seasonal Activity
Between May and September.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Larvae bore longitudinal or undulating galleries in the sapwood of slender branches, trunks or decaying stumps, more especially in damp areas.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Widespread in England, particularly in the south, less common elsewhere.
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Stenurella melanura. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Coleoptera is the largest order of insects with over 400,000 described species, representing ~25% of all known animal species and ~40% of all insects. In the U.S. alone, nearly 30,000 beetle species have been identified.
Ecological role of the group
Beetles are prominent decomposers, especially in forests, breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients. As predators, they reduce populations of pest insects. Many species are also important pollinators of flowering plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Beetles have major economic significance: leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) and weevils (Curculionoidea) are among the most destructive agricultural pests globally, costing billions annually, while predatory species like ladybugs provide natural pest control.
Recorded sources for this group: Britannica, Smithsonian, NCSU Entomology. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Stenurella melanura (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Stenurella melanura
What is Stenurella melanura?
Stenurella melanura is a species in the family Cerambycidae, within the order Coleoptera.
Where is Stenurella melanura found?
Habitat: Well wooded areas, parks and meadows where they will visit a range of flowering plants.
When is Stenurella melanura active?
Stenurella melanura: seasonal activity - Between May and September..
What is the life cycle of a Stenurella melanura?
Larvae bore longitudinal or undulating galleries in the sapwood of slender branches, trunks or decaying stumps, more especially in damp areas.