Brenthidae

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Brenthidae (class Insecta, order Coleoptera) Family of narrow beetles, up to 40 mm long, often with an exceptionally lengthened head and rostrum; the elytra of some species comprise only one-quarter of the total body length. Many are sexually dimorphic. The females' long rostrum is used for boring into wood in which eggs are laid; the jaws are tiny. Males have a broad rudimentary rostrum but large jaws possibly for holding the female during mating. Larvae are fleshy, with short legs, and are found in decaying wood. There are 1230 species, largely of tropical woodland.

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