Cottonwood Borer vs Speckled Longhorn

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Cottonwood Borer Speckled Longhorn
Scientific Name Plectrodera scalator Pachytodes cerambyciformis
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Cerambycidae Cerambycidae
Size 25-40 mm 7-12mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Hedgerows
Diet Root Feeders Wood Feeders
Regions Central and eastern United States Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Cottonwood Borer

A large longhorn beetle with bold black and white patterning and long antennae. Its larvae bore into the roots and lower trunks of cottonwood and willow trees.

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Did You Know?

When handled, it produces a loud squeaking sound by rubbing parts of its thorax together.

Speckled Longhorn

A small yellow longhorn beetle with variable black spots and markings. It is a frequent visitor to hogweed and other umbelliferous flowers.

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Did You Know?

Despite being common it is remarkably variable in its spot pattern with no two individuals looking exactly alike.