Bug Identifier
House Longhorn Beetle
Community identification

House Longhorn Beetle

Hylotrupes bajulus

Order & Family
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Cerambycidae
Size
Adults range from 8 to 25 mm (0.3 to 1 inch) in length.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Found in seasoned timber and dry wood of buildings, primarily softwoods like pine, spruce, and fir.

Diet & Feeding

Adults do not feed; larvae consume cellulose from the sapwood of dry treated or untreated softwoods.

Behavior Patterns

Mostly active during the day; females lay eggs in wood crevices; larvae bore deep into wood for several years before pupating.

Risks & Benefits

A major structural pest that can cause significant damage to building roof timbers and floors; ecologically, they help decompose dead softwood in the wild.