Two-banded Longhorn Beetle - Rhagium bifasciatum

A large species of longhorn beetle that may reach 22 millimetres long and can be distinguished by the two prominent pale yellow bands on each elytron.

The adults are commonly found on tree trunks, often in woodland and occasionally on low vegetation.

March to July with peak time April to June.

Like other longhorn beetles, R. bifasciatum lays its eggs in dead wood, often using coniferous trees, where they bore deep, broad tunnels until they are ready to pupate after about two years.

Widespread but local in most of Britain.

Infrequent in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were a total of 13 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.