This picture of this colourful beetle was taken as it was sitting feeding on a cowslip flower on a bridleway on the edge of Thetford Forest.

For those interested in settings the lens was a Sigma 105mm F2.8 macro lens mounted on a Nikon D610.  The image was shot at F16 1/250 ISO 640

The Black and Yellow Longhorn Beetle Scientific name: Rutpela maculate is a relatively large colourful beetle. It’s a common beetle across large parts of Europe and is widespread in the UK. It is black and yellow in colour and has large antennae.  They are normal found in woodlands where there are plenty of larvae to feed on.

The adults are most active in warm weather between May and August, they visit a wide range of flower, such as cowslip and hogweed feeding on their nectar and pollen.

The females lay their eggs on fallen trees and branches or rotting stumps. The larvae live within the wood feeding on it for two to three years. After pupating they emerge as adult beetles. Their life as adults is short lived as they only live for a few weeks as adults.