Aegosoma scabricorne

The beetle, about 30-50 mm long, belonging to the biggest insect species at all Europe. It has yellowish brown colouring with a short, tight hair. The male has antennae a little longer than its body, the female antennae reach only to the half of its body. The larvae develop for 3-4 years in dead wood in injured or dying stems. Several generations may develop in a single stem. Before pupating the larvae open an emergence hole through which the adults leave after several weeks in the pupal stage. The adults fly at night from early July until early August, spending the day in bark crevices and similar places. Mating and oviposition occur on the stem either in hollows or on wounds. Dead adults can be found at the base of the hostplant. This species is typically associated with old floodplain forests, parks, graveyards and established trees lining roads.