Morimus asper

Morimus asper · Order: Coleoptera · Family: Cerambycidae

Damages trees, gardens or crops. It can damage trees and shrubs by feeding on bark, leaves and stems.

Adults are 15 to 40 mm long and are active from March to October, feeding on bark, leaves and stems while hiding during the day. It is widespread across much of Europe and parts of western Asia, including many Mediterranean countries and Turkmenistan.

Source: Wikipedia

How to recognize it

The beetle has a black, elongated oval body covered with short gray-brown hair and a grainy texture on the elytra. The subspecies Morimus asper funereus shows gray-blue elytra with dark spots.

Source: Wikipedia

Size

Adults range from 15 to 40 mm in length.

Source: Wikipedia

Where it lives

Adults are found from March through October, feeding on bark, leaves and stems and usually hiding during daylight hours.

Source: Wikipedia

What it eats

Adults feed on bark, leaves and stems of various plants. Larvae are polyphagous, consuming wood of both deciduous and coniferous trees.

Source: Wikipedia

Life cycle

Mating and egg-laying mainly occur in the evening and at night when the beetles are active. Males often fight, causing severe damage to each other.

Source: Wikipedia

When you see it

Adults can be observed from early spring through autumn (March to October).

Source: Wikipedia

Where it comes from

The species occurs throughout southwestern, southern and southeastern Europe and into western Asia, including countries such as France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Russia and Turkmenistan.

Source: Wikipedia