Subject: What kind of bug is this?
Geographic location of the bug: Romania, Paulesti region
Date: 06/29/2019
Time: 10:10 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman: I found this near my window. Could you please identify it?
How you want your letter signed: Andrew S.
Dear Andrew,
This is a Longicorn in the family Cerambycidae, and based on images posted to Beetles from Romania, we originally thought it might be Monochamus sartor, a member of the genus commonly called Sawyers, but additional research has caused us to rethink that and to conclude that it is more likely a Great Capricorn Beetle, Cerambyx cerdo, a mistake we have made in the past. The images on iNaturalist were a strong factor in our correction. According to a pdf from EU Wildlife and Sustainable Farming Project: “The great capricorn beetle is a large beetle with a thin body and very long antennae which are longer than the body” and “The species is declining across Northern Europe but is still relatively common in South France, Spain and Italy. Nevertheless, even here, the rate of decline is worrying.”
Dear Daniel,
Thank you for taking the time to examine the photos, cross-reference the sources and write such a detailed response. I command you for willingly answering the questions of so many out of passion. Your help is much appreciated.
Have a good day,
Andrew
