Ant-mimicking longhorn beetle (Cerambycidae) covered with mites hangs onto a blade of grass.

One of my favorite finds of this past year was this sneaky little longhorn beetle. It would have been more sneaky (and less clumsy) I’d wager if it wasn’t covered with those mites. Very cool insect, and a first sighting in the backyard. I couldn’t quite narrow this down to a species, only the tribe, as there are a few similar-looking genuses with ant mimics. I liked the black and white versions I rendered, except that I was unable to get the mites to show up as prominently. (B&W’s ater the break.)

Ant-mimicking longhorn beetle (Cerambycidae) covered with mites walks over a bright yellow dandelion blossom.

Ant-mimicking longhorn beetle (Cerambycidae) covered with mites hangs onto a blade of grass. (Black and white version)

Ant-mimicking longhorn beetle (Cerambycidae) covered with mites walks over a bright yellow dandelion blossom. (Black and white version)