Cerambycinae

Cerambycinae is a subfamily of long-horned beetles (family Cerambycidae). It is one of the major lineages within Cerambycidae, comprising hundreds of genera and many thousands of species distributed worldwide. Members of Cerambycinae display a wide range of sizes and shapes, but most share the characteristic long antennae that in many species exceed the length of the body. The group is diverse in coloration and habitus, and its classification has undergone changes as new data have emerged.

Biology and morphology: The larvae are typically wood-borers, developing within the trunks, branches, or dead wood of trees and shrubs; some species inhabit living trees as borers. Larval development often lasts one to several years, depending on species and conditions. Adults commonly feed on flowers, nectar, pollen, or bark, and are often active at dusk or at night; many are attracted to lights. Reproduction involves egg-laying in bark crevices or in wood, with larvae tunneling to feed and develop.

Distribution and significance: Cerambycinae have a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring in tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions. They inhabit forests, woodlands, and sometimes human-modified habitats. Economically, some cerambycines are important forest pests by damaging timber and living trees, while others contribute to nutrient cycling by decomposing dead wood. They are also studied in ecology, evolution, and biogeography for their diversity and wood-boring life cycle.