Musk beetle

Aromia moschata · Order: Coleoptera · Family: Cerambycidae

No source yet on danger. We have no source yet on whether it bites, stings or damages anything.
Musk beetle
Photo: Frank Vassen, CC BY

The musk beetle has long antennae, a metallic copper-green tint and an iridescent shell that changes colour with the viewing angle. It lives across Eurasia, especially in Europe, and adults are most often seen on willow leaves in places like the Gwent Levels in Great Britain.

Source: Wikipedia

How to recognize it

It is recognisable by its long antennae, a coppery-green metallic sheen and a shell that shows iridescent colours depending on the angle.

Source: Wikipedia

What it eats

Adults feed on willow leaves, where their larvae also develop.

Source: Wikipedia

Life cycle

A musky odour is released from thoracic glands through openings near the hind-leg joint.

Source: Wikipedia

Where it comes from

The species is native to Eurasia and is common throughout most of Europe, except much of Spain and southern Italy. In North and East Africa, and across Asia to Japan, it is represented by several subspecies.

Source: Wikipedia

More photos

Musk beetle photo 2
Photo: iNaturalist user, CC0
Musk beetle photo 3
Photo: Jochen Essig, CC BY
Musk beetle photo 4
Photo: Kostas Zontanos, CC BY
Musk beetle photo 5
Photo: Bobo-X, CC BY

Questions people ask

Where can I see a musk beetle?

They are locally found in Britain at places like the Caldicot and Wentloog Levels and are most often seen on willow leaves.

Source: Wikipedia

What does the musk beetle smell like?

It emits a characteristic musky smell from glands in its thorax, released near the hind-leg joint.

Source: Wikipedia

Same family (Cerambycidae)

House LonghornHouse LonghornHylotrupes bajulusCan damage your homeAsian Longhorned BeetleAsian Longhorned BeetleAnoplophora glabripennisDamages trees, gardens or cropsRed Milkweed BeetleRed Milkweed BeetleTetraopes tetrophthalmusWhite-spotted SawyerWhite-spotted SawyerMonochamus scutellatusCan damage your homeRed Pine Longhorn BeetleRed Pine Longhorn BeetleStictoleptura rubraSpotted Longhorn BeetleSpotted Longhorn BeetleRutpela maculata

Sources

  • Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musk_beetle

Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia

Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.

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