This species reaches a body length of 6–10 mm.[3] The basic color is black or dark brown. The scales on the body of the male are dark brown with a light pattern, while most scales in females are dark. Pronotum is rather serrate along lateral edges, a transverse medial ridges is not well developed and basal margin is quite rounded.[4] The elytrae are shortened and do not cover the entire body. Pronotum and elytra show patches of light-colored setae.[4]
Females bear a striking long acuminate telson - unusual fact in Coleoptera - with a central groove near apex and irregular lateral serrations, which makes them easily distinguishable from the males. In addition, The males have a different drawing than the females.[3]
Biology
These beetles, which can be found from May to June[3] on flowers or wood, are relatively common. The species has one generation (univoltine) and hibernates as a pupa.[3]
Adult females usually oviposit to moist, rotting wood and use their acuminate telson to create the site of oviposition.[4] The larvae live in the soil[3] and feed on dead wood of birch and other trees.
Gallery
Mounted specimen of a male.
Female, from different angles
Detail of female telson
Male. Video clip
Bibliography
Harde, Severa: Der Kosmos Käferführer, Die mitteleuropäischen Käfer, Franckh-Kosmos Verlags-GmbH & Co, Stuttgart 2000, ISBN3-440-06959-1 (German)
Möller, G., Schneider, M. (1991): Kommentierte Liste ausgewählter Familien überwiegend holzbewohnender Käfer von Berlin-West mit Ausweisung der gefährdeten Arten (Rote Liste). In: Auhagen, A., Platen, R., Sukopp, H. (Hrsg.): Rote Listen gefährdeter Pflanzen und Tiere in Berlin. - Landschaftsentwicklung und Umweltforschung, Sonderheft 6, 1991: S. 373-420. (German)
Jiři Zahradník, Irmgard Jung, Dieter Jung et al.: Käfer Mittel- und Nordwesteuropas, Parey Berlin 1985, ISBN3-490-27118-1 (German)