Banded Alder Borer, Rosalia Funebris

Day 281: No matter how you read it, that is one whopping big bug! I discovered this Banded Alder Borer (Rosalia funebris) inside a bucket on my back porch yesterday, one of perhaps half a dozen I've seen in my lifetime. Nevertheless, they are not considered uncommon in the Pacific Northwest where they are native, nor are they regarded as pests despite their unfortunate common name. The adults lay their eggs in downed and decaying hardwood or in crevices in dying trees. The larvae then bore into the wood. Mature Alder Borers generally feed on flowers. Despite the nasty-looking pincers, they do not bite, but when provoked, they can emit a hissing sound or squeak (this fellow wasn't complaining, despite being held captive in a petri dish for a few minutes while I photographed him). Individuals within the species often display variation in the shape and size of the black bands marking the elytra (wing covers). As some field guides may suggest in a curious sidebar, adult Rosalia are known to be attracted to the smell of fresh paint.