The life cycle of the Cerambyx longicorn takes two to five years, dependent on the climatic conditions within the area. The females lay up between 100 and 400 eggs into deep slits in the tree bark, and the first larvae hatch after 8 to 12 days (9). In northern Africa, there are five larval stages over a period of 28 months, followed by the pupal stage which lasts 32 days (10). The larvae begin feeding just underneath the bark, but later the larvae penetrate deeper into the woody parts of the trunk (11). This beetle is only able to develop in fresh wood, but the larvae impacts on the tree as it feeds, creating dead wood structures (12). Pupation takes place in the outer wood parts of the tree. After emerging from the pupa, this beetle will remain inactive in the wood for several months before leaving the tree. Within 13 days of becoming a sexually mature adult, the Cerambyx longicorn will mate (11).
This beetle possesses specialised structures for producing sound: a hard edge is rubbed against a row of toughened ridges on the abdomen, making a chirping noise called stridulation (11).