Agapanthia cardui

Agapanthia cardui is a species of flat-faced longhorn beetle belonging to the family Cerambycidae, subfamily Lamiinae.

Description
Agapanthia cardui adults grow up to 6 - 14 mm and can be encountered from April through July, completing their life cycle in one year.

Subspecies
Several subspecies of A. cardui are recorded in the entomological literature:
 * Agapanthia cardui consobrina Chevrolat, 1840
 * Agapanthia cardui marginalis (Mulsant), 1839
 * Agapanthia cardui nigroaenea (Mulsant), 1839
 * Agapanthia cardui peragalloi (Mulsant), 1862
 * Agapanthia cardui ruficornis (Pic) Pesarini & Sabbadini, 2004

Distribution
This beetle is present in most of Europe, in the Near East, and in the eastern Palearctic realm. In 2010, it was listed as occurring in 24 European countries. It has since expanded into the UK; the first specimens were recorded from East Kent in May 2018.

Diet and habitat
Agapanthia cardui are polyphagous in herbaceous plants, mainly feeding on Carduus nutans (hence the specific name) and Silybum marianum, as well as on Salvia, Urtica and Cirsium species.