Black and yellow beetles are unusual insects due to their jet black bodies with bright yellow patterns. Yellow and black bodied beetles are common in gardens, and you can find some small beetles in your home. Black and yellow longhorn beetles are harmless insects that are common in gardens throughout North America. Common black and yellow bugs in the home are food bugs and ladybugs.
Although most black and yellow bugs do not harm humans, some species can cause tremendous damage to plants. For example, the black-spotted yellow cucumber beetle may eat the leaves of many crops in a vegetable patch. And black and yellow beetles like the locust borer and the elm leaf beetle can damage young trees.
The good news is that many species of black and yellow bugs are beneficial insects. So if you see a few in your home or yard, don't worry about killing the insects. Many beetles feed on caterpillars and tiny insectsPlant pests in the homelike aphids.
This article is a guide to identifying the most common types of black and yellow beetles. Descriptions and pictures of the yellow and black bugs will help you identify the beetle species.
Black and Yellow Beetle Identification
Black and yellow beetles are easily identified by their size, antennae, thorax, and general body shape. Distinguishing features can be yellow or black spots, stripes, or irregular markings on the elytra (wing covers). Like most insect species, black and yellow beetles have three pairs of legs and one pair of wings.
There is more than400,000 beetle species, many of which are black and yellow. All beetle species belong to the insect orderBeetle. IndividuallyTypes of black beetleswith yellow markings are divided into families and genera.
Types of Black and Yellow Beetles (with Pictures) - Guide to Identification
There are many types of black and yellow beetles. While most are beneficial insects, there can be other pesky pests around the home. Knowing their various characteristics can help identify them correctly.
Here are pictures and descriptions of the most common types of black and yellow bugs.
pantry beetle (Dermestes Lardarius)
The Lesser Black Bacon Beetle has a creamy yellow band on the elytra and feeds on dried food
A pantry beetle is aType of black house beetlewith a dull brownish-yellow band across its elytra. The tiny black beetles can be identified by the three spots on the off-white or yellowish band on each wing box. In addition, the house beetles have an oval body and powerful antennae with club tips.
Pantry beetles, also called moisture beetles, are 8 to 9.5 mm (0.33 in to 0.37 in) in size and typically infest pantries. The tiny blackish beetles invade homes in the spring and are attracted to cured meats, dry pet food, cheese and dead animals. Unfortunately, their little black larvae can also damage books by burrowing into them for shelter.
The best way to keep food bugs out of your home is to store food in airtight containers. In addition, it is important to thoroughly clean any surfaces in cabinets where you suspect food beetles and their larvae or eggs lived. You can also kill food bugs by freezing food for at least seven days.
Identification of black and yellow beetles
Larder beetles are characterized by black bodies with a dull creamy, brown or yellowish band across their elytra and six spots.
Black and Yellow Longhorn Beetle (Verstreuter Typocerus)
The black and yellow longhorned beetle has an elongated body with long brown legs
Also known as the flower longhorn, this black and yellow beetle has an elongated, oval, black body with yellow stripes across its elytra. The black and yellow beetle has long brown legs, a small head and two long antennae. The slender yellow-striped black beetleresembles a tiny waspwhen it flies
The black and yellow longhorned beetle measures 11 mm and is found in wooded areas, parks and grasslands throughout North America.
Longhorn beetles get their name from their long, thread-like curved antennae. With the black and yellow longhorned beetle's ability to fly, the flying insect mimics wasps while feeding on nectar from spring flowers.
Identification of black and yellow beetles
The black and yellow longhorned beetle can be identified by the yellow stripes across its black elytra, long segmented antennae, and long brown legs.
Black-and-yellow longhorn beetle (Discovered Rutpela)
The black and yellow longhorned beetle can be identified by its elongated body with black dots and stripes on its yellow body
The black and yellow spotted longhorn beetle is medium-sizedyellow beetlewith black bands and spots on the elytra. Its distinctive features include long antennae banded with yellow and black, black and yellow legs, and an elongated triangular shape. Like many flying black and yellow beetles, this species mimics the behavior of wasps.
The spotted longhorn beetle is 13 to 22 mm long. Like other longhorn species, it has the trait of super-long antennae. Pictures of the yellow and black longhorn show that it has a black head and pronotum, bulging eyes, and its yellow hind legs have a black band near the body.
Black- and yellow-spotted longhorn beetles are active from May to August and often feed on flower pollen and nectar.
Identification of black and yellow beetles
The black and yellow spotted longhorn beetle can be identified by its yellow body with black markings, head and thorax, banded antennae, and yellow and black legs.
Yellow-horned flower beetle (Strangalia luteicornis)
The longhorned beetle's slender body is covered with black stripes
The yellowhorn beetle is a slender black and yellow beetle with an elongated body tapering to a point. With its yellow and black zebra-like stripes, this beetle has blunt greenish-yellow legs, long curved antennae, and a small tan head. There are also two vertical black stripes on the chest.
The longhorned beetle is 0.35" to 0.55" (9 - 14mm) long. Its distinctive narrow body shape helps distinguish it from other black and yellow beetles.
You will find the yellowhorn beetle active during the day in spring and early summer. The yellow and black horn beetle is attracted to blooming flowers such as dandelions, clover, sunflower and daisies.
Identification of black and yellow beetles
This yellow-horned longhorned beetle is distinguished by its bright yellow elytra with black markings, long curved yellow horn-like antennae, and greenish-yellow legs.
cucumber beetle
Cucumber beetle: Pictured: spotted cucumber beetle (left) and striped cucumber beetle (right)
Cucumber beetles are distinctive yellow insects with black markings on their elytra. Thetwo species of cucumber beetleare the striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum) and the spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata). The rounded, oval, black, and yellow beetles feed on crops such as cucumbers, eggplant, beans, and squash.
Cucumber beetles are difficult to spot because they are tiny and spend most of their time under leaves. The first signs of a cucumber beetle infestation are usually holes in the leaves and poor plant growth.
Striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum):This small, oval beetle has bright yellow elytra with three vertical black stripes. The black and yellow beetle has a black head and antennae, yellow thorax, and yellowish legs with black bands. The tiny striped yellow beetle is 5mm long.
Spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata):This bright golden yellow beetle is identified by rows of large black spots on its elytra. The oval, rounded "bug" has a greenish-yellow thorax, black head, and segmented antennae. This plant-destroying insect looks like a yellow ladybug. The black-spotted yellow beetle measures 0.25 inches (6mm).
Identification of black and yellow beetles
Cucumber beetles are small yellow beetles with black markings on their elytra that are either spots or stripes.
Saperda scalar
The longhorn beetle Saperda scalaris has black and yellow markings covering its elongated body and long antennae
Saperda scalaris a long-horned beetle species with distinctive greenish-yellow and black markings covering its elytra. This slender yellowish-black beetle has an elongated body with a head the same width as the thorax. In addition, the small cylindrical beetle has dark green legs and banded antennae.
As with all species of longhorn beetle,Saperda scalarhas long, curved antennae almost as long as its slender body.
Identification of black and yellow beetles
TheSaperda scalaris a yellow-green beetle with wavy black bands running the length of its elytra.
Eurasian bee beetle (connected to trichius)
The Eurasian bee beetle can be identified by its bright yellow body with black spots and short antennae
The Eurasian Bee Beetle is a rich, rounded black and yellowBeetle that looks like a bumblebee. The distinctive features of this unusual beetle are its pair of yellow, oval-shaped elytra with three large black spots, a fuzzy thorax, large eyes, and short antennae with lobes. In addition, the bee-like beetle has shiny black legs.
The Eurasian bee beetle is a small black and yellow beetle, 10mm long. A feature of this strange beetle is the line of fine white hairs around its elytra. The adult beetles often feed on different flowers throughout the summer, making them easily mistaken for bumblebees.
Identification of black and yellow beetles
The Eurasian bee beetle is easily distinguished by its yellow and black elytra surrounded by fine white hairs and its black head covered with yellowish bristles.
22-point ladybug (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata)
The tiny 22-spot ladybug has a yellow round body with black spots
The 22-spot ladybug is a striking beetle due to its domed shape and bright yellow color with contrasting jet-black spots. There are 11 spots on each of this tiny beetle's yellow wing cases. Also, it has a yellowish pronotum with five black spots and a black head.
As one of the smaller ladybird species in theCoccinellidaefamily, the ladybug with 22 points is only 5 mm long. The tiny, black-spotted yellow ladybird is found on low-growing shrubs that feed on powdery mildew. in contrast to othersTypes of ladybugsfeeding on aphids, this species tends to avoid eating bugs.
Identification of black and yellow beetles
The 22-spot ladybug is easily identified by its bright yellow, arched wing coverings with black spots.
Bamboo borer / Bamboo tiger buck (Chlorophorus annularis)
The bamboo borer can be recognized by its yellow body and irregular black pattern, long legs, and long antennae
The bamboo borer is a small black and yellow beetle with irregular tiger markings on its slender elytra. The distinguishing features of the bamboo borer beetle are its long, curved antennae, long legs, and two round black eyes on the side of its head. The small, elongated beetles are 15 mm long.
As the name suggests, the bamboo tiger beetle feeds on various plants in theBambooGenus. It also feeds on sugar cane and sweetgum. In addition, the beetle has a distinctive tiger-like pattern on its back and two long antennae.
Identification of black and yellow beetles
The bamboo longhorn beetle is easily distinguished from other longhorned beetles due to its unusual yellow and black patterns on its elytra.
yellow-bellied beetle (Pachnoda yellow-bellied)
The yellow-bellied beetle has an oval-shaped yellow-black body with a brown head and legs
The yellow-bellied beetle is a broadly oval-shaped flight beetle with a large black spot and two black dots on its bright yellow elytra and pronotum. The stocky yellow and black beetle has stout legs that are deep brown-red in color and a reddish-brown head with short, club-shaped antennae.
The yellow-bellied beetle, also known as the garden fruit beetle, measures 20 to 25 mm. Although the beetle is primarily yellow and black on top, its underside reveals a bright yellow body. Garden beetles usually feed on fruit in the summer.
Identification of black and yellow beetles
The colorful yellow-bellied beetle can be recognized by its flattened oval elytra, which are mainly black with yellow edges. It also has dark reddish-brown antennae, heads, and legs.
fiddler beetle (Eupoecila australasiae)
The violin beetle has an oval, flattened black and tan body with yellow markings and short legs
The fiddler beetle or rose chafer is a brightly colored yellow and black scarab beetle with a distinctive fiddle pattern on its dark brown or black elytra. In addition, the beetle has a sizeable, rounded pronotum, a small black head, and powerful club antennae. The large black beetle with its curved yellow markings measures 0.6" to 0.8" (15 - 20 mm).
The smooth-bodied black and yellow thread beetles feed on flower nectar. As a result, they are often seen flying from flower to flower and play a crucial role in flower pollination.
Some pictures of rose beetles show them to have dark brown elytra with neon green markings.
Identification of black and yellow beetles
The violin beetle can be identified by its dark brown to black flattened oval body with bright yellow markings, spiny brown legs, and prominent large eyes on the side of its head.
wasp beetle (The shield of a ram)
The black and yellow wasp beetle has a slender body and is an important pollinator
The wasp beetle is an unusual species because it looks like ayellow striped wasp. This sleek black beetle has two yellow bands on its back, a yellow spot on its tail, and a small yellow dot behind its thorax. Other distinguishing features of this wasp mimic include its brown legs, banded, thread-like antennae, and a small head.
The black and yellow wasp beetle is 9 to 18 mm long. Like wasps, the beetle feeds on nectar and pollen from summer flowering plants. However, unlike wasps, this species of beetle is harmless and has no sting.
Identification of black and yellow beetles
The wasp beetle's distinguishing features are its slender black body and bright yellow stripes across its elytra.
American carrion beetle (Necrophila americana)
Pictured: American carrion beetle (left) and female (right)
The American carrion beetle is a distinctive beetle with a broad, oval black shape and a pale yellow pronotum. Images of the black and yellow beetle show that its elytra has a bumpy texture and its yellow shoulder area has a dark brown patch behind its head. The antennae of this carrion beetle are head-shaped.
The American carrion beetle is 13 – 22 mm long. Sometimes the flying beetle is mistaken for a flattened bumblebee or a fat firefly.
These black and yellow bugs play an essential role in the ecosystem. Theblack bugsfeed on dead and decaying organic matter, muscle tissue, and flesh. They are usually found under rocks or near rotting food or animal carcasses.
Identification of black and yellow beetles
The black American carrion beetle has a bumpy black elytra with a bright yellow thorax and a shield-shaped dark brown or black spot in the center.
locust borer (Megacyllene robiniae)
The locust beetle's slender body is covered with black and yellow stripes and zigzag markings
The locust borer is a black and yellow beetle that can easily be mistaken for a wasp. The colorful beetle has a yellow zigzag pattern on elongated black oval elytra. Its black chest and head have yellow horizontal stripes. In addition, it has curved, filiform, dark brown antennae and brown-orange legs.
The adult locust beetles are 11 to 28 mm long. The locust borer is a black and yellow beetle native to North America. The flying beetles are common thereblack robiniaand goldenrod plants grow.
Identification of black and yellow beetles
The slender, slightly hairy locust beetles have a striped appearance with a distinctive yellow "W" shape on their elytra. It also has multiple yellow stripes running through the head, chest, and elytra.
elm leaf beetle (Xanthogaleruca luteola)
The dusky yellow elm leaf beetle has dark green to black markings with a metallic undertone
The elm leaf beetle is an alien dark yellow coffee bean shaped beetle. The stocky beetle has metallic golden yellow elytra, head and thorax with iridescent green almost black markings. The deep yellow elytra have dark green markings and the thorax has an hourglass marking with a greenish dot on either side.
The small yellow and dark green beetle is 6 - 8 mm long. The invasive dusky yellow beetle is widespread throughout North America, with the adult beetles and larvae decimating foliageelms.
The annoying beetles can also become a nuisance in the apartment if you have several elm trees nearby. That's because the flying bugs are attracted to lights when it gets dark.
Identification of black and yellow beetles
The elm leaf beetle is a golden-yellow beetle with dark green to black markings and a metallic sheen.
Related articles:
- Red Bugs - Guide to Identification
- Green Bugs - Guide to Identification
- Ground Beetles - Guide to Identification