Tanbark Borer - Phymatodes testaceus

Length 8 to 13mm. Very variable in colour from golden brown, through reddish to a deep blue-black. A common form has the thorax reddish and the elytra deep blue.

The adults are active nocturnally and will come to light but are rarely seen otherwise under normal circumstances.

May to July is the peak time.

Eggs are laid under the bark of standing dead timber or recently cut trunks with oak being the main host, although several other species are used.

A local species across southern England and Wales to Nottingham and with single records from south Yorkshire and north Wales.

Infrequent in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were 25 VC55 records for this species up to June 2017.