Grammoptera (Grammoptera) abdominalis (Stephens, 1831)
[= Grammoptera variegata (Germar, 1824)]

Subfamilia: LEPTURINAE  /  Tribus: LEPTURINI

Grammoptera abdominalis
[Photo © M.Hoskovec]


Grammoptera abdominalis develops in rotten branches of deciduous trees attacked by a fungus Vuilleminia comedens. The larvae of this species feed centrally in the branches and later they create pupal cells perpendicular to the branch axis. The pupal cell leads directly under the bark surface and is not secured by any wad of frass as it is common in other Cerambycidae. The preferred habitat of this species are oak woods growing on south facing slopes of river valleys in Central Europe.

Body length:5 - 10 mm
Life cycle:2 years
Adults in:end of April - July
Host plant:polyphagous on deciduous trees, associated with a fungus Vuilleminia comedens
Distribution:Europe except North, Caucasus, Transcaucasia


The depicted beetles were reared from larvae found under bark of a dead, fungi infested oak branch. The branch was collected in Srbsko (Central Bohemia, Czech Republic).

Collected by M.Hoskovec.


Subfamilia: Lepturinae Latreille, 1802
Tribus: Lepturini Latreille, 1804
Genus: Grammoptera Audinet-Serville, 1835
Subgenus: Grammoptera Audinet-Serville, 1835
Species: Grammoptera (Grammoptera) abdominalis (Stephens, 1831)