Elytrimitatrix undata

Distinguished from other North American longhorned beetles by its placement in the subfamily Disteniinae, which has been variously treated as a tribe of Lepturinae, a tribe of Cerambycinae, or a separate family. The wavy elytral patterns are distinctive. Formerly classified as Distenia undata, it is now the sole U.S. representative of the genus Elytrimitatrix. Superficially resembles other cerambycids but with subtle morphological differences in wing venation and other characters that have led to its separate subfamilial status.

Moderate-sized longhorned beetle with distinctive wavy or undulating patterns on the elytra, from which the species epithet derives. Body form is typical of cerambycids with long antennae. Coloration is somewhat muted compared to more brightly colored relatives.

Mesic lowland deciduous forests. Adults have been observed nocturnally on the trunks of large standing oak trees (Quercus spp.).

Broadly distributed across eastern and central United States. Records from Missouri, Arkansas, and throughout the eastern and central states. The only member of its subfamily occurring in the U.S.

Active during warm, muggy summer months. Adults are regular visitors at lights from July through August. One record from mid-July in Missouri.

• Quercus - adult observed on trunklarge standing oak tree at night
• various hardwoods - larval hostlarvae recorded breeding in dead wood
• Pinus - larval hostgeneralist larval host, including pine

Larvae develop in dead wood of various hardwoods and pine, mining beneath the bark rather than in the wood itself. Adults emerge during summer.

Nocturnally active on tree trunks. Regularly attracted to ultraviolet and mercury-vapor lights during summer nights. Adults have been observed in numbers at fermenting liquid bait traps (molasses, beer, water, yeast mixture).

Wood-boring beetle contributing to decomposition of dead and dying trees. Larval development in dead wood aids in nutrient cycling and forest ecosystem processes.

Collected by entomologists for scientific study. Occasionally encountered at porch lights by homeowners. No known economic importance as a pest.

• other CerambycidaeSuperficially resembles other longhorned beetles but distinguished by subfamilial characters and wavy elytral patterns
• former Distenia speciesPreviously classified in Distenia but separated based on morphological differences in wing venation and other characters

• longhorned beetle
• cerambycid
• Disteniinae
• nocturnal
• light-attracted
• wood-borer
• generalist host

• BugGuide
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• July | 2011 | Beetles In The Bush
• Ascalaphidae | Beetles In The Bush
• August | 2022 | Beetles In The Bush
• Arthropoda | Beetles In The Bush | Page 5