Molorchus umbellatarum


Molorchus umbellatarum is a species of longhorn beetles in the tribe Molorchini. It is found throughout Europe including southern Britain.

Taxonomy and nomenclature

This species is often known by the synonym Glaphyra umbellatarum and may be called the "Pear Shortwing Beetle". It is placed in the subgenus Molorchus and is the type species in its genus under the basionym Necydalis umbellatarum Schreber, 1759. This species has two varieties:Molorchus umbellatarum var. diversipes Pic, 1897Molorchus umbellatarum var. ''minimus''

Biology

Besides feeding on pears, M. umbellatarum is known to consume: Castanea sativa, Viburnum opulus, Frangula alnus, Euonymus europaeus and Cornus mas. Known parasitoids include Xorides indicatorius.