Aridaeus thoracicus

CerambycidaeLonghorn Beetles Index Aridaeus thoracicus Chlorophorus curtisi Didymocantha obliqua Pachydissus sp Rhytiphora

The Tiger Longhorn (Aridaeus thoracicus), sometimes described as a flying, wasp mimic beetle, is a common longicorn beetle found in Australia (with Atlas of Living Australia showing the majority of observations from Queensland down through New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory). Other common names include the Flower Longicorn Beetle and the Tiger Longicorn Beetle.

They measure about 20 mm in length, with notched compounded eyes. The antenna arises from within this notch. The antennae of the male extend beyond the abdomen, while the females have shorter antennae that reach only to the apex of the abdomen. This longicorn beetle species have orange and black patterns, and the femur of each leg is swollen in the middle. Hairs can be observed on the legs and thorax.

The adults feed on flowering plants (both pollen and nectar) in the Eucalyptus trees in the Myrtle family. The larvae feed on the dead wood of a variety of trees.

The pronotum can vary from black overall to almost all orange. The pronotum is the dorsal (upper) plate of an insect’s prothorax (the first segment of the thorax). A black smudge at the apex of the elytra also seems to vary.