# Lined Longhorn Beetle (*Analeptura lineola*) The Lined Longhorn Beetle is a colorful insect with long antennae that look like tiny horns! They love to munch on wood and can often be found in forests or gardens. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Lined Longhorn Beetle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Flower_Longhorn_Beetle_-_Analeptura_lineola%252C_Occoquan_Regional_Park%252C_Occoquan%252C_Virginia.jpg&width=800) Photo: Judy Gallagher, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flower_Longhorn_Beetle_-_Analeptura_lineola%252C_Occoquan_Regional_Park%252C_Occoquan%252C_Virginia.jpg) ## Appearance The Lined Longhorn Beetle is slender and elongated, typically reddish-brown to dark brown, marked with distinct paler longitudinal stripes on its wing covers. It has exceptionally long antennae, which can often be longer than its entire body, especially in males. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Coleoptera - **Family:** Cerambycidae - **Genus:** Analeptura ## Interesting facts - Lined Longhorn larvae spend years hidden inside dead wood before they emerge as adults! - Longhorn beetles can make squeaking sounds by rubbing body parts, a tiny alarm! - Male Lined Longhorns often have antennae stretching far beyond their body length! - The Lined Longhorn's antennae can 'taste' as well as smell, exploring their world! ## Special abilities - **Super Antennae Sense:** Lined Longhorn Beetles have super-long antennae that help them detect mates and food sources using chemical signals and vibrations. - **Wood-Boring Power:** Lined Longhorn Beetle larvae can tunnel deep into dead wood using their strong mandibles, which helps them access nutrients and shelter. - **Decay Accelerator:** Lined Longhorn Beetle larvae help speed up the decomposition of dead trees, which helps cycle nutrients back into the forest soil. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 14-30 mm - **Size:** 7-15 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-90 days - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Larvae munch on dead wood, helping recycle nutrients; adults may sip nectar. - **Age differences:** Larvae bore and feed on dead wood, while adults may forage for nectar or pollen, or not feed at all. - **Primary Foods:** Decaying hardwood, Tree sap, Pollen, Nectar - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*) — Larvae feed within the decaying wood of oak trees. - **Eats:** [Sugar Maple](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sugar-maple) (*Acer saccharum*) — Larvae also bore into the dead wood of maple trees. - **Eaten by:** [Hairy Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hairy-woodpecker) (*Picoides villosus*) — Woodpeckers can extract larvae from infested trees for food. - **Depends on:** Turkey Tail Fungus (*Trametes versicolor*) — Fungi help soften wood, making it easier for larvae to tunnel. ## Traits - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low These beetles are not harmful, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Lined Longhorn Beetle? Look for hard wing covers meeting in a line down the back, then compare the antennae, body shape, legs and markings. Metallic colors shift a lot with lighting. Beetle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Lined Longhorn Beetle's wingspan? 14-30 mm ### How big is Lined Longhorn Beetle? 7-15 mm ### How long does Lined Longhorn Beetle live? 30-90 days ### What does Lined Longhorn Beetle eat? Larvae munch on dead wood, helping recycle nutrients; adults may sip nectar. ### Where is Lined Longhorn Beetle usually found? Forests ### How does Lined Longhorn Beetle hunt? Foraging ### How many legs does Lined Longhorn Beetle have? 6 ## Where to spot - [Hyner View State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hyner-view-state-park) — Pennsylvania, US · State Park ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Lined Longhorn Beetle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lined-longhorn-beetle)