<< Previous Next >>

Spiny Longhorn - Blosyropus spinosus


Spiny Longhorn - Blosyropus spinosus
Photo Information
Copyright: Steve Reekie (LordPotty) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1449 W: 146 N: 3764] (12035)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-04-08
Categories: Insects
Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ-2-S
Exposure: f/2.8, 1/80 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-03-06 18:13
Viewed: 763
Points: 14
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I went back into my 2005 archives to find this special creature,which my son,Aqua,found for me one night,on a torchlight walk through Pirongia Forest Park.
It is the rare and endangered Spiny Longhorn Beetle (also known as the Silver Pine Borer)
At 8cm or more in length,this flightless,nocturnal Longhorn easily competes with the better known Huhu Beetle for the title of New Zealands largest beetle.
Very few people ever get to see them though,unlike Huhus,which can appear in large numbers around outside lights at night time.

Obviously,I was thrilled when Aqua found this,and even more excited when I learned how rare it was.

Here is a little more information about the species:

SPINY LONGHORN BEETLE

Order: Coleoptera

Family: Cerambycidae

Taxonomic Name: Blosyropus spinosus

Found in scattered locations throughout New Zealand, but very rare, it is a Category 1 threatened species.

Habitat: Found in decaying logs of Tawa or Beech. The female often lays eggs high in the leaves of Dracophyllum (grass trees). The larvae live in burrows just below ground level, blocked with plugs of chewed wood. Emergence is typically from August through to February.


I hope you like this special species from our native forest.

Thanks for looking,
Steve
JORAPAVI, bobcat08, gannu, Silvio2006, Argus has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3813 W: 190 N: 11346] (34981)
  • [2009-03-06 22:28]

Hello Steve,
Though the both the busy lichen BG and the patterns on the body break its outline, this large endemic Longhorn is well seen in this is a fine fairly sharp capture.
The POV lighting and composition are great to make this a fine presentation of this impressive beetle.
As a beetle of this size must require substancial native trees and plenty of them I can understand that it is both very rare and threatened and you were lucky to be able to take this! A great contribution to TN!
Thanks and enjoy the rest of your weekend,
Ivan

Ciao Steve, beautiful bug with great details and excellent sharpness, splendid light, very well done, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3262] (14691)
  • [2009-03-07 8:52]

Steve, Glad you managed to present this guy and you managed to spot him also. Well done and nice view. Ganesh

Hi Steve,

A good macro shot of this Long Horn beetle. I find it pleasantly the surroundings in which this beetle lives well visible is.

Thanks for sharing and TFS BOB

Hola Steve,
Interesante toma de este longicornio que nos muestras con buena nitidez y detalles, contrastando su forma y color con la piedra y el liquen, saludos
José Ramón

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1339 W: 0 N: 2573] (9077)
  • [2009-03-09 0:07]

Hi Steve,
really a wow here. The species is very lovely. The texture of the tree trunk is very excellent in becoming a good bg for this unique beetle.
Beautifully composed to give a pleasant and attractive effect, besides being special of its rarity.

regards,
Foozi

He Steve!
Maybe DOF is not perfect in this picture, but I like original shape of this Cerambycidae beetle. Horns on the pronotum looks really "dangerous" ;>
Interesting is the second name - Silver Pine Borer, as I can see differenr colours but not silver :) (ok, silver is not dominated ;>).
Greetings,
Radomir

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF