Wasp Beetle - Clytus arietis

Description

Though this beetle mimics a wasp, in both colouration and movement, this black and yellow beetle is totally harmless.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

On hedgerow vegetation and in well wooded areas.

When to see it

It can be found from April until July.

Life History

It breeds in the decaying wood of deciduous trees. It can often be found in clear view, resting on leaves in low vegetation. Presumably its yellow and black colours warn off any predatory birds!

UK Status

Common and widespread in England and Wales, scarcer in Scotland.

VC55 Status

Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were a total of 74 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Wasp Beetle
Species group:
Beetles
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Coleoptera
Family:
Cerambycidae
Records on NatureSpot:
157
First record:
23/06/2007 (Nicholls, David)
Last record:
06/07/2023 (Zsalako, Dalma)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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