''Hexatricha pulverulenta'', commonly known as the squeaking longhorn, is a

beetle Beetles are insects that form the Taxonomic rank, order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Holometabola. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 40 ...

in the family

Cerambycidae The longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae), also known as long-horned or longicorns (whose larvae are often referred to as roundheaded borers), are a large family of beetles, with over 35,000 species described. Most species are characterized by anten ...

, the only species in the

monotypic In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unisp ...

genus ''Hexatricha''. It is endemic to New Zealand. It was first described by John O. Westwood in 1843 as ''Lamia pulverulenta'', and later moved into the genus ''Hexatricha'' (sometimes incorrectly spelled ''Hexathrica)''. Hexatricha pulverulenta pair on karaka tree

Hexatricha pulverulenta pair on karaka tree

The squeaking longhorn is so called for the noise it makes, by

stridulation Stridulation is the act of producing sound by rubbing together certain body parts. This behavior is mostly associated with insects, but other animals are known to do this as well, such as a number of species of fish, snakes and spiders. The mech ...

, when handled. Female beetles lay an egg under the bark of dead or dying trees, especially ''

Pinus radiata ''Pinus radiata'' ( syn. ''Pinus insignis''), the Monterey pine, insignis pine or radiata pine, is a species of pine native to the Central Coast of California and Mexico (on Guadalupe Island and Cedros island). It is an evergreen conifer in t ...

'' or New Zealand beech (''

Nothofagus ''Nothofagus'', also known as the southern beeches, is a genus of 43 species of trees and shrubs native to the Southern Hemisphere, found across southern South America (Chile, Argentina) and east and southeast Australia, New Zealand, New Guin ...

''). These hatch in 10–19 days, and larvae live under, and feed off, wood for perhaps two or three years. They pupate for 30 days, hatching from spring to autumn (August to April) into adult beetles which live for up to three months. Adults are reluctant fliers.

References

External links

Citizen science observations of species
Parmenini Beetles described in 1843 Endemic beetles of New Zealand Monotypic Cerambycidae genera {{Parmenini-stub