[JTh]

I have never seen such a big beetle before, it was nearly 4 cm long, with antennas as long as the body. It turned up on our terrace while we were enjoying our breakfast, which is surprising, since it supposedly is a night-active beetle; maybe it had had a late night. It is a protected species, listed in EU’s Habitats Directive, so I’m glad to see we have enough forests and rotten wood around here to support it.


P5020795 Long-horned beetle - Morimus asper/funereus.jpg by JorunT, on Flickr


P5020804 P5020795 Long-horned beetle - Morimus asper/funereus.jpg.jpg by JorunT, on Flickr

According to this source: http://lifemipp.eu/mipp/new/card.jsp;jsessionid=FB3DD549B0320626AC17BE3E8106EF00?id=5, the taxonomy of the genus Morimus has recently been redefined. Until recently it was thought to consists of five species, one of them was Morimus funereus. A new genetic study showed that all members of this genus probably belong to one, morphologically and genetically variable species, named Morimus asper.

[Umbrian]

Wonderful second 'photo Jorun - so often you do not really see the face of insects and they have such character.
An aside - when sitting outside early the other morning a baby squirrel came exploring-he did not notice me and I enjoyed watching him scamper about. I think we have a family living in the garden judging from the number of Cyprus cones I find half eaten.

[Hilary]

What a beauty and you had your camera at the ready.
Great

[JTh]

Thank you, Carole and Hillary. The beetle must like it here, it was back for breakfast again yesterday morning. My camera is never far away.

[Alisdair]

Somehow I missed seeing these two wonderful photos back in May - what a character, Jorun!