Musk beetle

Aromia moschata · Order: Coleoptera · Family: Cerambycidae

No source yet on danger. We have no source yet on whether it bites, stings or damages anything.
Musk beetle
Photo: Frank Vassen, CC BY

The musk beetle has long antennae and a metallic shell that changes colour with the viewing angle. Adults are usually seen on willow leaves, where the larvae also develop. It occurs locally in Great Britain, for example on the Gwent Levels, and is a Eurasian species widespread in Europe.

Source: Wikipedia

How to recognize it

Long antennae and a coppery-green metallic sheen that shifts with angle identify this beetle.

Source: Wikipedia

Where it lives

In Britain it is found in places like the Caldicot and Wentloog Levels (Gwent Levels SSSI). Adults perch on leaves, especially those of willow trees.

Source: Wikipedia

What it eats

Adults feed on willow leaves, which also host the larvae.

Source: Wikipedia

Life cycle

A musky scent is released from thoracic glands near the hind-leg joint.

Source: Wikipedia

Where it comes from

Aromia moschata is a Eurasian species, common across Europe except most of Spain and southern Italy.

Source: Wikipedia

Same family (Cerambycidae)

House LonghornHouse LonghornHylotrupes bajulusCan damage your homeAsian Longhorned BeetleAsian Longhorned BeetleAnoplophora glabripennisDamages trees, gardens or cropsRed Milkweed BeetleRed Milkweed BeetleTetraopes tetrophthalmusWhite-spotted SawyerWhite-spotted SawyerMonochamus scutellatusCan damage your homeRed Pine Longhorn BeetleRed Pine Longhorn BeetleStictoleptura rubraSpotted Longhorn BeetleSpotted Longhorn BeetleRutpela maculataDamages trees, gardens or crops

Sources

  • Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musk_beetle

Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia

Text written 2026-10-22 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.

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