Cerambycidae

(Longhorn Beetles)

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.