Smallest-cerambycid
Guides
Cyrtinus pygmaeus
Cyrtinus pygmaeus is an exceptionally small species of longhorned beetle in the subfamily Lamiinae. At only 2–3 millimeters in length, it is the smallest member of the family Cerambycidae in North America. The species exhibits remarkable ant mimicry, with elytra bearing two prominent humps near their bases and bands of white pubescence creating the illusion of a narrow-waisted ant. It has been reared from dead branches of various hardwood trees including river birch, chinquapin oak, willow oak, and black oak. Despite being described in 1847 and considered widespread across eastern North America, it remains infrequently encountered in the field due to its diminutive size and effective mimicry.