False Chrysanthemum Longhorn Beetle - False Chrysanthemum Longhorn Beetle

It is an insect belonging to the family Cerambycidae in the order Coleoptera of the class Insecta. It is found in mountainous areas throughout Japan, as well as the southern Kuril Islands and Sakhalin, but is particularly common in Hokkaido. It is 8 to 12 millimeters long. It has a long, slender body, with a black head, underside of the body, and most of the legs, but the prothorax and end of the abdomen are orange-yellow, and the upper wings have a blue metallic sheen and are long and parallel on both sides. The larvae grow in rotting wood, and adults appear in the summer, often flying to lights at night. If one lands on the human body and is rubbed or crushed, body fluids will come out and cause welts (blisters) on the skin. There are nearly 20 species in the genus in Japan.

[Takehiko Nakane]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

昆虫綱甲虫目カミキリモドキ科に属する昆虫。日本各地の山地帯のほか南千島、樺太(からふと)（サハリン）に分布するが、とくに北海道に多い。体長8～12ミリメートル。細長い体をもち、頭、体下面、脚(あし)の大部分が黒いが、前胸と腹部末端は橙黄(とうこう)色、上ばねは青い金属光沢をもち両側が平行し長い。幼虫は朽ち木中で育ち、成虫は夏に現れ、夜間灯火によく飛んでくる。人体に止まったものをこすったり、つぶしたりすると体液が出て皮膚にみみずばれ（水疱(すいほう)）ができる。同属種は日本に20近くいる。

［中根猛彦］

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