Cerambycinae

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Superfamily: Chrysomeloidea
Family: Cerambycidae
Subfamily: Cerambycinae

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Cerambycinae: /sɛˈræmbɪˌsaɪni/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Ant-mimic Longhorned Beetle - Cyrtophorus verrucosus, G. R. Thompson Wildlife Management Area, Linden, Virginia by Judy Gallagher. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Chrotoma dunniana - inat 134730577 by {{{name}}}. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Icosium tomentosum atticum - inat 307779439 by {{{name}}}. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Cyrtophorus Verrucosus On Leaf by Ken-ichi Ueda. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Banded Hickory Borer - Knulliana cincta (47464846322) by Christina Butler from Georgia, United States. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Geropa concolor - inat 321124657 by {{{name}}}. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Summary

Cerambycinae is a diverse and widespread subfamily of longhorn beetles, with around 440 species in North America and nearly 4,500 species worldwide, recognized for their distinctive physical characteristics and ecological roles.

Physical Characteristics

Blunt last segment of the maxillary palp; face slanting forward or nearly vertical; rounded pronotum, often widest near the middle; some groups may have spines on elytral apices.

Identification Tips

Look for the bluntness of the last segment of the maxillary palp, the slanting or nearly vertical face, and the rounded pronotum that is widest in the middle.

Habitat

Cerambycinae are found in a variety of habitats worldwide including forests, woodlands, and urban areas that host the appropriate plant species for their diet and reproduction.

Distribution

Worldwide distribution including Asia, Europe, and the Americas, particularly in the neotropical regions.

Diet

Primarily feed on woody plants during the larval stage, often boring into the wood of trees and shrubs.

Life Cycle

Development involves egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages, with larvae typically developing inside wood.

Reproduction

Females lay eggs in or on the bark of trees; the larvae bore into the wood where they develop.

Ecosystem Role

Important decomposers as larvae feed on and break down dead wood, facilitating nutrient cycling.

Economic Impact

Can be pest species in forestry and agriculture, causing damage to timber and crops; however, they also play important roles in decomposition and habitat structuring.

Collecting Methods

Trapping using baited traps
Hand collecting from host plants
Light trapping at night

Preservation Methods

Pinning specimens through the pronotum
Preserving in alcohol for molecular analysis

Evolution

The Cerambycinae subfamily is characterized by significant evolutionary diversity, being one of the larger subfamilies within Cerambycidae, closely related to Lamiinae.

Similar Taxa

Misconceptions

Often mistaken for other beetles due to their long antennae and wood-boring habits, which can lead to confusion with pests.