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Longicorn ID: Tool for Diagnosing Cerambycidae Subfamilies and Tribes
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Cerambycinae

Classification Introduction
  • The subfamily Cerambycinae Latreille, 1802 currently contains >11,000 described species in about 114 tribes. Photographs of 420 exemplar specimens are currently available for this subfamily.

    NOTE: Many experts agree that tribal classification within this huge subfamily is problematic (i.e., artificial). In a recent work by Svacha & Lawrence (2014), the authors stated that tribal classification within the subfamily was unsettled, and that "...no adult apomorphies have been identified, and even definition of the subfamily on adult characters is difficult."
Diagnostic Features of Adults
  • The generally prognathous head with truncate terminal palpomeres characterize most species in this large subfamily.
  • Antennae borne on raised tubercles. Lateral pronotal carinae absent. Head without elongate rostrum. Procoxal cavities externally broadly open; or narrowly open; or narrowly closed. Mesotarsus with 4 distinct tarsomeres and reduced penultimate one (pseudotetramerous). Ratio of elytral length to pronotal length 1.9-5.5. Antennae filiform; or serrate; or pectinate or bipectinate; or flabellate or biflabellate; or incrassate or clavate. Ratio of body length to greatest body width 2.17-7. Mesoscutum without stridulatory file; or with undivided stridulatory file. Inner subapical edge of protibia without antenna cleaner. Procoxal cavities internally closed by slender bar; or broadly closed. Mesocoxal cavities at middle narrowly separated; or moderately to widely separated. Ventral mesotarsal lobes on antepenultimate tarsomere only. Antenna without a distinct club. Mesoventrite without paired procoxal rests. Mandible short and broad. Abdominal tergites covered by elytra in most species. Outer subapical edge of mesotibia without antenna cleaner. Frontal region not to moderately, gradually declined; or strongly deflexed, vertical or inflexed at apex only. Mesotarsal claws simple. Meso/metaventral junction a straight line; or an anteriorly curved, angulate or acute line; or a complex fitting (Lawrence, 2007).
Diagnostic Features of Larvae
  • Larval Characters. Form subcylindrical. Head transverse to subquadrate, wider behind middle (except Smodicum); dorsal margins of epicranial halves fused for some distance behind frons; tentorial bridge (i.e. cross-arm) in same plane as hypostoma, the occipital foramen thus apparently divided into an anterior and posterior portion. Epistoma not produced over clypeus (except in a few tropical species); four epistomal setae present. Clypeus narrow, not as wide at base as epistoma and never filling space between dorsal articulations of mandibles. Labrum small, narrow, usually more or less circular. Antennae salient, rarely entirely retractile; distinctly three-segmented. Mandible short, trapezoidal, with cutting edge gouge-like, never with apex or dorsal angle produced. Ocelli absent, or one, two, or three pairs present. Maxillae movable; cardo distinct; maxillary articulating area swollen. Ventral mouthparts attached to hypostoma by little more than width of gula; maxillae with palpi and lobes curved upward against ventral part of mandibles; palpifer small, with outer margin strongly rounded; lobe borne on stipes and often setose on inner margin; labial palpi narrowly separated at base. Prothorax having presternum and epipleurum often fused, but sometimes distinctly separated; eusternum rarely distinct. Postnotal fold usually present. Abdomen having elliptical region surrounding spiracle protruding and well defined; epipleurum protuberant only on last three segments; pleural discs present. Legs small or absent. Spiracles of mesothorax not protruding into prothorax. Adapted from Duffy (1953).
Geographic Distribution of Subfamily Biology and Economic Importance
  • Larvae of most species develop for about one year in the trunk or branch wood of living or dead trees (although some species can have two broods per year and other species may take five years or more for maturation). Larvae of some species develop in herbaceous plants. A few notorious species can infest and kill otherwise healthy trees and can have a major economic impact. Others can attack dead wood used in buildings and furniture. Adults are relatively short lived, probably most living less than 1 month. Many do little or no feeding as adults, although in some groups they actively feed on pollen and nectar of flowers or are attracted to sap flows on trees (summarized from Linsley, 1961; Lawrence, 2007, and other sources).
Selected References to Adult Specimens
Selected References to Larvae Specimens



Acangassu diminuta
Galileo & Martins, 2001; dorsal
Cerambycidae:Cerambycinae




Achenoderus octomaculatus
(Fairmaire & Germain, 1861); dorsal
type specimen
Cerambycidae:Cerambycinae
Photograph © E.H. Nearns




Achryson immaculipenne
Gounelle, 1909; dorsal
♂ specimen
Cerambycidae:Cerambycinae
Photograph © G.D. Ouellette




idtools.org     Longicorn ID images on Bugwood ITP Node
Longicorn ID last updated 2020  E.H. Nearns, N.P. Lord, S.W. Lingafelter, A. Santos-Silva, K.B. Miller, & J.M. Zaspel