Acrocinus longimanus
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~30%
The harlequin beetle (Acrocinus longimanus) is a large and distinctly colored species of longhorn beetle from the Neotropics and the only member of the genus Acrocinus. It is given its English name because of the elaborate pattern of black, orange-red and greenish-yellow markings in both sexes; despite this the beetle is quite well-camouflaged when perched on a lichen or fungus covered tree trunk. The species name longimanus is a Latin word that refers to the extremely long forelegs (manus) of the large males, which are longer than the beetle's entire body. The head-and-body of this beetle measures 4.3 to 7.5 cm (1.7–3.0 in) long. The size and unusual appearance of the harlequin beetle has made it popular among insect collectors. Although essentially harmless to humans, it may bite in self-defense with its strong mandibles.
The harlequin beetle was first scientifically described as Cerambyx longimanus by Linnaeus in the 10th edition of Systema Naturae in 1758. In 1806, it was moved to the newly coined genus Acrocinus by Illiger. Although recent authorities have consistently recognized it as the only member of this genus, the relationship to other genera of longhorned... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Braulio Carrillo National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 2 | Rincón de la Vieja National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 3 | Piedras Blancas National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 4 | Manu National Park | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 5 | Yasuní National Park | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 6 | Corcovado National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 7 | Tambopata National Reserve | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 8 | Arenal Volcano National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 9 | La Amistad International Park (Panama) | 🇵🇦 Panama |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Panama City | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 2 | San José | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Harlequin Beetle sighting in Arenal Volcano National Park on a given day, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 222nd most-seen of the 302 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.
January–February, April and October
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Harlequin Beetle in Arenal Volcano National Park on a given day, against under 5% in March, May–September and November–December, the lowest months.
Between 7 and 10 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Harlequin Beetle sightings with a recorded time, and about half of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is seen both by day and at night.
8th of 9
Of the 9 parks where we can rate Harlequin Beetle sightings, Arenal Volcano National Park ranks 8th at about 10%. The best odds are in Braulio Carrillo National Park (Costa Rica, about 20%), Rincón de la Vieja National Park (Costa Rica, about 20%) and Piedras Blancas National Park (Costa Rica, about 10%).
Same family: Cerambycidae
The closest relatives of the Harlequin Beetle that you can see in Arenal Volcano National Park (family Cerambycidae, Longhorn Beetles) are Taeniotes scalatus (about 10%), Oedudes bifasciatus (about 10%) and Chlorida cincta (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Harlequin Beetle is recorded against all the insects logged in Arenal Volcano National Park (6 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
