Definition of Long-horned beetle

The longhorn beetles or long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae) are a cosmopolitan family of beetles, typically characterized by extremely long antennae, which are often as long as or longer than the beetle's body. In various members of the family, however, the antennae are quite short (e.g., Parandra brunnea, figured below) and such species can only be recognized with difficulty from related beetle families such as Chrysomelidae. The family is large, with over 20,000 species described. Several are serious pests, with the larvae boring into wood, where they can cause extensive damage to either living trees or to wood in buildings; the old house borer Hylotrupes bajulus being a particular problem indoors. A number of species mimic ants, bees, and wasps, though a majority of species are cryptically colored. The rare giant long-horned beetle (Titanus giganteus) from northeastern South America is often considered the largest (though not the heaviest, and not the longest including legs) insect, with a maximum known body length of just over 16 centimeters.