The family Cerambycidae, also known as the Longhorn beetles, is a very diverse group of beetles characterized by their long and slender bodies and particularly long antennae. The antennae are often as long or even longer than the body of the beetle itself. This family includes more than 35 000 species, which are found all over the world except Antarctica.
Family Cerambycidae Latreille, 1802
Subfamily Prioninae Latreille, 1802
- Tribe Acanthophorini J. Thomson, 1864
- Tribe Aegosomatini J. Thomson, 1861
- Tribe Anacolini J. Thomson, 1857
- Tribe Cacoscelini J. Thomson, 1861
- Tribe Callipogonini J. Thomson, 1861
- Tribe Calocomini Galileo & Martins, 1993
- Tribe Cantharocnemini J. Thomson, 1861
- Tribe Catypnini Lacordaire, 1868
- Tribe Ergatini Fairmaire, 1864
- Tribe Eurypodini Gahan, 1906 (1868)
- Tribe Hopliderini J. Thomson, 1864
- Tribe Macrodontiini J. Thomson, 1861
- Tribe Macrotomini J. Thomson, 1861
- Tribe Mallaspini J. Thomson, 1861
- Tribe Meroscelisini J. Thomson, 1861
- Tribe Osphryonini Jin et al., 2023
- Tribe Parandrini Blanchard, 1845
- Tribe Prionini Latreille, 1802
- Tribe Rhipidocerini Jin et al., 2023
- Tribe Sceleocanthini Lacordaire, 1868
- Tribe Solenopterini Lacordaire, 1868
- Tribe Tereticini Lameere, 1913
- Tribe Vesperoctenini Vives, 2005
Subfamily Cerambycinae Latreille, 1802
- Tribe Acangassuini Galileo & Martins, 2001
- Tribe Achrysonini Lacordaire, 1868
- Tribe Agallissini J.L. LeConte, 1873
- Tribe Alanizini Di Iorio, 2003
- Tribe Anaglyptini Lacordaire, 1868 [NP]
- Tribe Aphanasiini Lacordaire, 1868
- Tribe Aphneopini Lacordaire, 1868
- Tribe Auxesini Lacordaire, 1872
- Tribe Basipterini Fragoso et al., 1987
- Tribe Bimiini Lacordaire, 1868
- Tribe Bothriospilini Lane, 1950
- Tribe Brachypteromini Sama, 2008
- Tribe Callichromatini Swainson, 1840
- Tribe Callidiini W. Kirby, 1837
- Tribe Callidiopini Lacordaire, 1868
- Tribe Cerambycini Latreille, 1802
- Tribe Certallini Fairmaire, 1864
- Tribe Chlidonini C.O. Waterhouse, 1879
- Tribe Cleomenini Lacordaire, 1868
- Tribe Clytini Mulsant, 1839
- Tribe Compsocerini J. Thomson, 1864
- Tribe Coptommatini Lacordaire, 1869
- Tribe Curiini J.L. LeConte, 1873
- Tribe Deilini Fairmaire, 1864
- Tribe Dejanirini Lacordaire, 1868
- Tribe Dichophyiini Gistel, 1848 165165
- Tribe Diorini Lane, 1950
- Tribe Distichocerini Pascoe, 1867
- Tribe Dodecosini Aurivillius, 1912
- Tribe Dorcasomini Lacordaire, 1868
- Tribe Dryobiini Arnett, 1962 H
- Tribe Eburiini Blanchard, 1845
- Tribe Ectenessini Martins, 1998
- Tribe Elaphidiini J. Thomson, 1864
- Tribe Eligmodermini Lacordaire, 1868
- Tribe Erlandiini Aurivillius, 1912
- Tribe Eroschemini Lacordaire, 1868
- Tribe Eumichthini Linsley, 1940
- Tribe Gahaniini Quentin & Villiers, 1969
- Tribe Glaucytini Lacordaire, 1868
- Tribe Graciliini Mulsant, 1839
- Tribe Hesperophanini Mulsant, 1839
- Tribe Hesthesini Pascoe, 1867
- Tribe Hexoplonini Martins, 2006
- Tribe Holopleurini Chemsak & Linsley, 1974
- Tribe Holopterini Lacordaire, 1868
- Tribe Hyboderini Linsley, 1940
- Tribe Hylotrupini Rose, 1983
- Tribe Ideratini Martins & Napp, 2009
- Tribe Lissonotini Swainson, 1840 H
- Tribe Luscosmodicini Martins, 2003
- Tribe Lygrini Sama, 2008
- Tribe Macronini Lacordaire, 1868 P
- Tribe Megacoelini Quentin & Villiers, 1969
- Tribe Methiini J. Thomson, 1860
- Tribe Molorchini Gistel, 1848
- Tribe Mythodini Lacordaire, 1868
- Tribe Necydalopsini Lacordaire, 1868
- Tribe Neocorini Martins, 2005
- Tribe Obriini Mulsant, 1839
- Tribe Ochyrini Pascoe, 1871
- Tribe Oedenoderini Aurivillius, 1912
- Tribe Oemini Lacordaire, 1868
- Tribe Opsimini J.L. LeConte, 1873
- Tribe Oxycoleini Martins & Galileo, 2003
- Tribe Paraholopterini Martins, 1997
- Tribe Phalotini Lacordaire, 1868
- Tribe Phlyctaenodini Lacordaire, 1868
- Tribe Phoracanthini Newman, 1840
- Tribe Phyllarthriini Lepesme & Breuning, 1956
- Tribe Piesarthriini McKeown, 1947
- Tribe Piezocerini Lacordaire, 1868
- Tribe Platyarthrini H.W. Bates, 1870
- Tribe Plectogasterini Quentin & Villiers, 1969
- Tribe Plectromerini Nearns & Braham, 2008
- Tribe Pleiarthrocerini Lane, 1950
- Tribe Plesioclytini Wappes & Skelley, 2015
- Tribe Protaxini Gahan, 1906
- Tribe Prothemini Lacordaire, 1868
- Tribe Psebiini Lacordaire, 1868
- Tribe Pseudocephalini Aurivillius, 1912 (1861)
- Tribe Pseudolepturini J. Thomson, 1861
- Tribe Psilomorphini Lacordaire, 1868
- Tribe Pteroplatini J. Thomson, 1861
- Tribe Pyrestini Lacordaire, 1868
- Tribe Rhagiomorphini Newman, 1841
- Tribe Rhinotragini J. Thomson, 1861
- Tribe Rhopalophorini Blanchard, 1845
- Tribe Rosaliini Fairmaire, 1864
- Tribe Sestyrini Lacordaire, 1868
- Tribe Smodicini Lacordaire, 1868
- Tribe Spintheriini Lacordaire, 1869
- Tribe Stenhomalini Miroshnikov, 1989
- Tribe Stenopterini Gistel, 1848
- Tribe Strongylurini Lacordaire, 1868
- Tribe Sydacini Martins, 2014
- Tribe Tessarommatini Lacordaire, 1868
- Tribe Thraniini Gahan, 1906
- Tribe Thyrsiini Marinoni & Napp, 1984
- Tribe Tillomorphini Lacordaire, 1868
- Tribe Torneutini J. Thomson, 1861
- Tribe Trachyderini Dupont, 1836
- Tribe Tragocerini Pascoe, 1867
- Tribe Trichomesiini Aurivillius, 1912
- Tribe Trigonarthrini Villiers, 1984
- Tribe Tropidini Martins & Galileo, 2007
- Tribe Tropocalymmatini Lacordaire, 1868
- Tribe Typhocesini Lacordaire, 1868
- Tribe Unxiini Napp, 2007
- Tribe Uracanthini Blanchard, 1853
- Tribe Vesperellini Sama, 2008
- Tribe Xystrocerini Blanchard, 1845
Subfamily Lepturinae Latreille, 1802
- Tribe Acmaeopini Della Beffa, 1915
- Tribe Caraphiini Ohbayashi et al., 2016
- Tribe Desmocerini Blanchard, 1845
- Tribe Encyclopini J.L. LeConte, 1873
- Tribe Evodinini Zamoroka, 2022
- Tribe Lepturini Latreille, 1802 H
- Tribe Necydalini Latreille, 1825
- Tribe Oxymirini Danilevsky, 1997
- Tribe Pidoniini Zamoroka, 2022
- Tribe Rhagiini W. Kirby, 1837
- Tribe Stenocorini J. Thomson, 1861
- Tribe Rhamnusiini Sama, 2009
- Tribe Sachalinobiini Danilevsky, 2010
- Tribe Teledapini Pascoe, 1871
- Tribe Xylosteini Reitter, 1913
Subfamily Spondylidinae Audinet-Serville, 1832
- Tribe Anisarthrini Mamaev & Danilevsky, 1973
- Tribe Asemini J. Thomson, 1861
- Tribe Atimiini J.L. LeConte, 1873
- Tribe Nothorhinini Zagajkevich, 1991
- Tribe Saphanini Gistel, 1848
- Tribe Spondylidini Audinet-Serville, 1832
- Tribe Tetropiini Seidlitz, 1891
Subfamily Lamiinae Latreille, 1825
- Tribe Acanthocinini Blanchard, 1845
- Tribe Acanthoderini J. Thomson, 1860
- Tribe Acmocerini J. Thomson, 1864
- Tribe Acridocephalini E.S. Dillon & L.S. Dillon, 1959
- Tribe Acrocinini Swainson, 1840
- Tribe Aderpasini Breuning & Téocchi, 1978
- Tribe Aerenicini Lacordaire, 1872
- Tribe Agapanthiini Mulsant, 1839
- Tribe Amphoecini Breuning, 1951
- Tribe Ancitini Aurivillius, 1917 P
- Tribe Ancylonotini Lacordaire, 1869
- Tribe Anisocerini J. Thomson, 1860
- Tribe Apomecynini J. Thomson, 1860
- Tribe Astathini J. Thomson, 1864
- Tribe Batocerini J. Thomson, 1864
- Tribe Calliini J. Thomson, 1864
- Tribe Ceroplesini J. Thomson, 1860
- Tribe Cloniocerini Lacordaire, 1872
- Tribe Colobotheini J. Thomson, 1860
- Tribe Compsosomatini J. Thomson, 1857
- Tribe Cyrtinini J. Thomson, 1864 H
- Tribe Desmiphorini J. Thomson, 1860
- Tribe Dorcadionini Swainson, 1840
- Tribe Dorcaschematini J. Thomson, 1860
- Tribe Elytracanthinini Bousquet, 2009
- Tribe Enicodini J. Thomson, 1864
- Tribe Eunidiini Téocchi et al., 2010
- Tribe Eupromerini Galileo & Martins, 1995
- Tribe Exocentrini Pascoe, 1864
- Tribe Forsteriini Tippmann, 1960
- Tribe Gyaritini Breuning, 1950
- Tribe Heliolini Breuning, 1951
- Tribe Hemilophini J. Thomson, 1868 [NP]
- Tribe Homonoeini J. Thomson, 1864
- Tribe Hyborhabdini Aurivillius, 1911
- Tribe Lamiini Latreille, 1825
- Tribe Laticraniini Lane, 1959
- Tribe Mauesiini Lane, 1956
- Tribe Megabasini J. Thomson, 1860
- Tribe Mesosini Mulsant, 1839
- Tribe Microcymaturini Breuning & Téocchi, 1985
- Tribe Morimonellini Lobanov et al., 1981
- Tribe Morimopsini Lacordaire, 1869
- Tribe Nyctimeniini Gressitt, 1951
- Tribe Oculariini Breuning, 1950
- Tribe Onciderini J. Thomson, 1860
- Tribe Oncideropsidini Aurivillius, 1922
- Tribe Onychogleneini Aurivillius, 1923
- Tribe Parmenini Mulsant, 1839
- Tribe Petrognathini Blanchard, 1845
- Tribe Phacellini Lacordaire, 1872
- Tribe Phantasini Kolbe, 1897
- Tribe Phrynetini J. Thomson, 1864
- Tribe Phymasternini Téocchi, 1989
- Tribe Pogonocherini Mulsant, 1839
- Tribe Polyrhaphidini J. Thomson, 1860
- Tribe Pretiliini Martins & Galileo, 1990
- Tribe Proctocerini Aurivillius, 1922
- Tribe Prosopocerini J. Thomson, 1864
- Tribe Pteropliini J. Thomson, 1860
- Tribe Saperdini Mulsant, 1839
- Tribe Stenobiini Breuning, 1950
- Tribe Sternotomini J. Thomson, 1860
- Tribe Tapeinini J. Thomson, 1857
- Tribe Tetraopini J. Thomson, 1860
- Tribe Tetraulaxini Breuning & Téocchi, 1977
- Tribe Tetropini Portevin, 1927
- Tribe Theocrini Lacordaire, 1872
- Tribe Tmesisternini Blanchard, 1853
- Tribe Tragocephalini J. Thomson, 1857
- Tribe Xenicotelini Matsushita, 1933
- Tribe Xenofreini Aurivillius, 1923
- Tribe Xenoleini Lacordaire, 1872
- Tribe Xylorhizini Lacordaire, 1872
- Tribe Zygocerini J. Thomson, 1864
These beetles have very interesting life cycles and behaviours. Most adults feed on the nectar of flowering plants, but some species may also eat leaves, fruit or wood. The larvae of carpenter beetles develop inside wood, where they consume wood matter, promoting the decomposition of trees. This process can take several years before the larva reaches the pupal stage and eventually transforms into an adult.
Not surprisingly, a huge variety of colours and patterns can be found among carpenter beetles. Some individuals are relatively inconspicuous, while others have bold and contrasting colours that serve as a warning to predators. Some species even mimic the appearance of other dangerous or poisonous beetles, which protects them from predators.
Cerambycidae are found in a variety of environments, from tropical rainforests to temperate forests and savannas. Their presence is often an indicator of a healthy ecosystem, as their larvae play an important role in recycling nutrients and decomposing dead wood.
Although carpenter beetles are not a direct threat to humans, some species can cause damage to wooden structures or trees.
The study of these beetles provides valuable information about ecosystem functioning and conservation. In addition, their unique appearance and lifestyle attract the attention of both experts and the general public, making the Cerambycidae one of the most interesting groups of insects.