phaea

Phaea is a genus of beetles in the family Cerambycidae, commonly known as longhorn beetles. The genus comprises numerous described species and is distributed mainly in tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas.

Members of the genus are generally elongate, with the elytra often patterned in contrasting colors that provide camouflage among bark and lichens. Antennae are typically long, especially in males.

Species occur primarily in Central and South America, as well as parts of the Caribbean, inhabiting forests and woodland edges where their larval stages bore into wood.

Like most Cerambycidae, Phaea larvae are wood-borers, feeding on dead or living trees and contributing to nutrient cycling. Adults commonly visit flowers or sap flows and may feed on nectar or pollen.

The genus contains a number of described species, with identification relying on patterns of coloration, body measurements, and other morphological traits. Because many species are very similar in appearance, careful examination and reference to taxonomic keys are used.