This and a few other similar-looking beetles were all over some flowers, mostly raspberry. Any ideas what they might be?

I've just searched through the guide, examined some of my flower longhorn shots, and looked through Yanega's book again. I found that my concerns about the eyes and antennae were unfounded and that I had overlooked Yanega's image of Gaurotes thorasica (plate 3), although it does not show very large or distinct pronotal shots and the elytral margins are said to be dark for the species. Interestingly, Gaurotes thorasica has variable color femurs -- redish or dark -- according to Yanega.

One concern I had that I did not mention before was the somewhat flattened and margined pronotum, which reminded me more of a cantharid's.

That would explain why I had some with black legs.

But let's see if a *real* beetle expert can give us guidance on this one.

I've gotten quite a few new longhorns lately. Hope to shoot them Sunday. I've been napping and staying out late with my UV lights the past few nights. Tonight should be great with all the heat!

I saw two Red-headed Ash Borers mating, but had forgotten to insert a memory card in my camera and missed a great opportunity. I caught one which I'll post over the weekend.

Well, I don't want to pass myself off as a "real" beetle expert but I have been studying longhorns for twenty years and have collected Gaurotes thoracica and also Brachysomida bivittata which I feel is this beetle's true identity (also pic #'s 21735, 21737, 21739, 21740). G. thoracica has a very deep cleft in the middle of the pronotum. Also according to Yanega, the elytra "always have dark lateral margins" while the specimens pictured here clearly have a light lateral stripe which is almost always present in B. bivittata. B. bivittata is quite variable. Yanega shows 4 photos and he could have shown more. The most "typical " form that I am used to in the northeast would be represented by 21740 with that shiny red pronotum with the two dark black spots. It's unfortunate that in Yanega's picture of G. thoracica, there also appears to be two faint black spots on the pronotum which I think are artifactual shadows; in the specimens that I have seen those areas are actually red but covered with thick pale pubescence. See also Dillon and Dillon for a good black and white drawing of B. bivittata (labeled as acmaeops bivittatus). I have a digital photo of G. thoracica which I'd be happy to share if someone tells me how!

Can you take a look at 23734 and see what you think?

Thanks for the info about the identification of these beetles. I made a new guide page, and moved the pictures there.

That would be great if you could post your picture of G. thoracica in the guide.
You could put it on the guide page already there, by searching for Gaurotes thoracica, click on "images", then hit the "add image" and browse your computer for the picture, fill out whatever info about the date seen location etc, then submit the picture.

If you want the official instructions, just click on the "Help" tab at the top of the screen, and then click "images", and the instructions are right there.