Longhorn Beetles
family of infraorder “Beetles“
1 family, 10 species
This summary discusses the characteristics of the Cerambycidae family of beetles, including their distinctive long antennae and varied size, shape, and coloration. It mentions that some species mimic ants, bees, and wasps while others are cryptically colored. The titan beetle from South America is considered the largest insect. The classification of the Cerambycidae family is complex, with disagreements among authorities, and fossil evidence dates back to approximately 122 million years ago. The summary also lists notable genera and species, including the harlequin beetle, Asian long-horned beetle, and Rosalia longhorn beetle.
Hierarchy
species of family “Longhorn Beetles“
1 species
species of family “Longhorn Beetles“
1 species
species of family “Longhorn Beetles“
1 species
species of family “Longhorn Beetles“
1 species
species of family “Longhorn Beetles“
1 species
Description#
Other than the typical long antennal length, the most consistently distinctive feature of adults of this family is that the antennal sockets are located on low tubercles on the face; other beetles with long antennae lack these tubercles, and cerambycids with short antennae still possess them. They otherwise vary greatly in size, shape, sculpture, and coloration. A number of species mimic ants, bees, and wasps, though a majority of species are cryptically colored. The titan beetle (Titanus giganteus) from northeastern South America is often considered the largest insect (though not the heaviest, and not the longest including legs), with a maximum known body length of just over 16.7 cm (6.6 in).Larvae are 0.5–22 cm (0.20–8.66 in) long, elongate in shape and lightly sclerotised. The prothorax is often enlarged and the sides of the body have lateral swellings (ampullae). The head is usually retracted into the prothorax and bears well-sclerotised mouthparts. The legs range from moderately developed to absent. The spiracles are always annular.
Classification#
As with many large families, different authorities have tended to recognize many different subfamilies, or sometimes split subfamilies off as separate families entirely (e.g., Disteniidae, Oxypeltidae, and Vesperidae); there is thus some instability and controversy regarding the constituency of the Cerambycidae. There are few truly defining features for the group as a whole, at least as adults, as there are occasional species or species groups which may lack any given feature; the family and its closest relatives, therefore, constitute a taxonomically difficult group, and relationships of the various lineages are still poorly understood. The oldest unambiguous fossils of the family are Cretoprionus and Sinopraecipuus from Yixian Formation of Inner Mongolia and Liaoning, China, dating to the Aptian stage of the Early Cretaceous, approximately 122 million years ago. The former genus was assigned to the subfamily Prioninae in its original description, while the latter could not be placed in any extant subfamily. Qitianniu from the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber of Myanmar, dating to approximately 100 million years ago, also could not be placed in any extant subfamily.
Notable genera and species#
Acrocinus longimanus – harlequin beetle, a large species where the male has very long front legs Anoplophora chinensis – citrus long-horned beetle, a major pest Anoplophora glabripennis – Asian long-horned beetle, an invasive pest species Aridaeus thoracicus – tiger longicorn (Australia) Cacosceles newmannii - Southern African longhorn beetle that is a surgacane pest Desmocerus californicus dimorphus – valley elderberry longhorn beetle, a threatened subspecies from California Moneilema – cactus longhorn beetles, which are flightless Onychocerus albitarsis – the only known beetle with a venomous sting Petrognatha gigas – giant African longhorn beetle Prionoplus reticularis – huhu beetle, the heaviest beetle in New Zealand Rosalia alpina – Rosalia longhorn beetle, a threatened European species Tetraopes tetrophthalmus – red milkweed beetle, a toxic species with aposematic colors Tetropium fuscum – brown spruce longhorn beetle, an invasive pest species Titanus giganteus – titan beetle, one of the largest beetles in the world Zorion guttigerum - flower long-horn beetle, an important pollinator species.
See also#
List of longhorn beetle (Cerambycidae) species recorded in Britain List of beetles of Nepal (Cerambycidae)
Further reading#
Monné, Miguel A. & Hovore, Frank T. (2005) Electronic Checklist of the Cerambycidae of the Western Hemisphere. PDF Cerambycids.com
External links#
Photo gallery “Longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) of the West Palaearctic Region” [1] and [2] Catalogs of New World and Old World Cerambycidae, respectively Cerambycidae of French Guiana National Museu, Rio, Brazil Holotype images Iberodorcadion Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Dorcadion - RedIRIS VIDEOS - Longicornes (Dorcadion, Cerambycidae, Coleoptera) Cerambycidae of Borneo pdf BugGuide.net - Longhorned Beetles (Cerambycidae) Anoplophora chinensis, citrus longhorned beetle on the University of Florida / Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Featured Creatures website Coleoptera: Cerambycidae, University of Florida, Dept. of Entomology and Nematology Wood-boring beetles of the World [3]
This summary discusses the characteristics of the Cerambycidae family of beetles, including their distinctive long antennae and varied size, shape, and coloration. It mentions that some species mimic ants, bees, and wasps while others are cryptically colored. The titan beetle from South America is considered the largest insect. The classification of the Cerambycidae family is complex, with disagreements among authorities, and fossil evidence dates back to approximately 122 million years ago. The summary also lists notable genera and species, including the harlequin beetle, Asian long-horned beetle, and Rosalia longhorn beetle.
Ancestry Graph
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