Jewel beetle
Encyclopedia
Buprestidae is a family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...

 of beetle
Beetle
Coleoptera is an order of insects commonly called beetles. The word "coleoptera" is from the Greek , koleos, "sheath"; and , pteron, "wing", thus "sheathed wing". Coleoptera contains more species than any other order, constituting almost 25% of all known life-forms...

s, known as jewel beetles or metallic wood-boring beetles because of their glossy iridescent
Iridescence
Iridescence is generally known as the property of certain surfaces which appear to change color as the angle of view or the angle of illumination changes...

 colors. The family is among the largest of the beetles, with some 15,000 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 known in 450 genera
Genera
Genera is a commercial operating system and development environment for Lisp machines developed by Symbolics. It is essentially a fork of an earlier operating system originating on the MIT AI Lab's Lisp machines which Symbolics had used in common with LMI and Texas Instruments...

. In addition, almost 100 fossil species have been described.

The larger and more spectacularly colored jewel beetles are highly prized by insect collectors. The elytrae of some Buprestidae species have been traditionally used in beetlewing
Beetlewing
Beetlewing, or beetlewing art, is an ancient craft technique using iridescent beetle wings practiced traditionally in Thailand, Myanmar, India, China and Japan.-Tradition:...

 jewellery and decoration in certain countries in Asia, like India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...

 and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

.

Description and ecology

Shape is generally cylindrical or elongate to ovoid, with lengths ranging from 3 mm to an impressive 100 mm, although most species are under 20 mm. A variety of bright colors are known, often in complicated patterns. The iridescence
Iridescence
Iridescence is generally known as the property of certain surfaces which appear to change color as the angle of view or the angle of illumination changes...

 common to these beetles is not due to pigments in the exoskeleton
Exoskeleton
An exoskeleton is the external skeleton that supports and protects an animal's body, in contrast to the internal skeleton of, for example, a human. In popular usage, some of the larger kinds of exoskeletons are known as "shells". Examples of exoskeleton animals include insects such as grasshoppers...

, but instead physical iridescence in which microscopic texture in their cuticle selectively reflects specific frequencies of light in particular directions. This is the same effect that makes a compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...

 reflect multiple colors.

The larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...

e bore through roots, logs, stems, and leaves of various types of plants, ranging from tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...

s to grass
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...

es. The wood boring types generally favor dying or dead branches on otherwise-healthy trees, while a few types attack green wood; some of these are serious pests capable of killing trees and causing major economic damage. Some species are attracted to recently-burned forests to lay their eggs. They can sense pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...

 wood smoke from up to 50 miles away, and can see infrared
Infrared
Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...

 light, helping them to zero in as they get closer to a forest fire. They will bite if they feel threatened, and can aggregate to swarms of biting beetles in recently burned areas.

Systematics

Jewel beetle classification is not yet robustly established, although there appear to be five or six main lineages, which may be considered subfamilies, possibly with one or two being raised to families in their own right. Some other systems define up to 14 subfamilies.

The commonly-accepted subfamilies, with some representative genera and species, are:
Agrilinae
Agrilinae
Agrilinae is a subfamily of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following genera:* Aaaba Bellamy, 2002* Afrocylindromorphus Bily & Bellamy, 1998* Agrilochyseus Thery, 1935* Agrilodia Obenberger, 1923...

 – cosmopolitan, with most taxa occurring in the Northern Hemisphere
  • Agrilus
    Agrilus
    Agrilus is a genus of jewel beetles, notable for having the largest number of species of any single genus of organism.Species:* Agrilus abantiades Descarpentries & Villiers, 1963* Agrilus abditus Horn, 1891...

  • Anodontodora
    Anodontodora
    Anodontodora is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Anodontodora aurulans * Anodontodora capicola...

    Obenberger, 1931
  • Asymades
    Asymades
    Asymades is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Asymades boranus * Asymades transvalensis Kerremans, 1893...

    Kerremans, 1893
  • Brachys
    Brachys
    Brachys is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Brachys acutus Kerremans, 1903* Brachys aequinoctialis Gory, 1841* Brachys aerosus Melsheimer, 1845* Brachys aeruginosus Gory, 1841...

  • Chalcophlocteis
    Chalcophlocteis
    Chalcophlocteis is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Chalcophlocteis dives * Chalcophlocteis hauseri Obenberger, 1931...

    Obenberger, 1924
  • Discoderoides
    Discoderoides
    Discoderoides is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Discoderoides abessynicus * Discoderoides africanus * Discoderoides alluaudi...

    Théry, 1936
  • Entomogaster
    Entomogaster
    Entomogaster is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Entomogaster aequalipennis Obenberger, 1931* Entomogaster amplicollis Fairmaire, 1900* Entomogaster apollo Obenberger, 1946...

    Saunders, 1871
  • Ethiopoeus
    Ethiopoeus
    Ethiopoeus croesus is a species of beetle in the family Buprestidae, the only species in the genus Ethiopoeus....

    Bellamy, 2008
  • Madecorformica
    Madecorformica
    Madecorformica silhouetta is a species of beetle in the family Buprestidae, the only species in the genus Madecorformica....

    Bellamy, 2008
  • Meliboeus
    Meliboeus
    Meliboeus is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Meliboeus abessinicus Obenberger, 1919* Meliboeus abimvae Théry, 1940* Meliboeus achardi Obenberger, 1924* Meliboeus adlbaueri Niehuis, 1998...

  • Pachyschelus
    Pachyschelus
    Pachyschelus is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Pachyscelus abnitidus Kerremans, 1903* Pachyscelus acutus Kerremans, 1896* Pachyscelus aeneicollis...

  • Paracylindromorphus
    Paracylindromorphus
    Paracylindromorphus is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Paracylindromorphus achardi * Paracylindromorphus africanus...

  • Paradorella
    Paradorella
    Paradorella is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Paradorella capensis * Paradorella natalensis Bellamy, 2008* Paradorella strandi Obenberger, 1923...

    Obenberger, 1923
  • Pseudokerremansia
    Pseudokerremansia
    Pseudokerremansia is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Pseudokerremansia arcuata * Pseudokerremansia zuluensis Bellamy, 2008...

  • Strandietta
    Strandietta
    Strandietta is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Strandietta austroafricana Bellamy, 2008* Strandietta jakobsoni Obenberger, 1931* Strandietta maynei...

    Obenberger, 1931

Buprestinae
Buprestinae
Buprestinae is a subfamily of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following genera:* Actenodes Dejean, 1833* Afagrilaxia Bily & Bellamy, 1999* Afrabothris Thery, 1936* Agaeocera Saunders, 1871* Aglaostola Saunders, 1871...

 – cosmopolitan
  • Agrilozodes
    Agrilozodes
    Agrilozodes is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Agrilozodes ocularis * Agrilozodes praeclarus * Agrilozodes pygmaeus...

  • Anthaxia
    Anthaxia
    Anthaxia is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Anthaxia abdita Bílý, 1982* Anthaxia abyssinica Théry, 1896* Anthaxia acaciae Fisher, 1935* Anthaxia acutangula Motschulsky, 1861...

  • Bubastoides
    Bubastoides
    Bubastoides is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Bubastoides argodi Kerremans, 1909* Bubastoides kadleci Bily, 2008...

  • Buprestis
    Buprestis
    Buprestis is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Buprestis adjecta * Buprestis aetnensis Baviera & Sparacio, 2002* Buprestis alemanica...

  • Calodema
    Calodema
    Calodema is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Calodema bifasciata Neef de Sainval & Lander, 1993* Calodema blairi Neef de Sainval & Lander, 1994* Calodema hanloni Nylander, 2008...

    – found only in Australia and New Guinea; usually in rain forests
  • Castiarina
    Castiarina
    Castiarina is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Castiarina abdita Barker, 1990* Castiarina abdominalis * Castiarina acuminata...

    – about 500 species, found only in Australia and New Guinea, previously considered a subgenus
    Subgenus
    In biology, a subgenus is a taxonomic rank directly below genus.In zoology, a subgeneric name can be used independently or included in a species name, in parentheses, placed between the generic name and the specific epithet: e.g. the Tiger Cowry of the Indo-Pacific, Cypraea tigris Linnaeus, which...

     of Stigmodera
  • Chrysobothris
    Chrysobothris
    Chrysobothris is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Chrysobothris abyssinica Fairmaire, 1891* Chrysobothris acaciae Knull, 1936* Chrysobothris achardi Obenberger, 1922...

  • Colobogaster
    Colobogaster
    Colobogaster is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Colobogaster acostae Rojas, 1856* Colobogaster amorosa Obenberger, 1952* Colobogaster anchoralis Obenberger, 1932...

  • Conognatha
    Conognatha
    Conognatha is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Conognatha abdominalis Waterhouse, 1912* Conognatha acuminata Thomson, 1878* Conognatha amoena...

  • Eurythyrea
    Eurythyrea
    Eurythyrea is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Eurythyrea aurata * Eurythyrea austriaca * Eurythyrea bilyi Weidlich, 1987* Eurythyrea eao Semenov, 1895...

  • Hiperantha
    Hiperantha
    Hiperantha is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Hiperantha bella Saunders, 1869* Hiperantha boyi Thery, 1936* Hiperantha decorata * Hiperantha fontainieri Thery, 1928...

  • Metaxymorpha
    Metaxymorpha
    Metaxymorpha is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Metaxymorpha alexanderiensis Nylander, 2008* Metaxymorpha apicalis * Metaxymorpha apicerubra Thery, 1923...

    – found only in Australia, New Guinea, and Indonesia; usually in rain forests
  • Stigmodera
    Stigmodera
    Stigmodera is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Stigmodera cancellata * Stigmodera gratiosa Chevrolat, 1843* Stigmodera hyperboreus...

    – 7 species remain here
  • Temognatha
    Temognatha
    Temognatha is a genus of metallic wood-boring beetles. Most of the many species are native to Australia. There are over 85 species in Australia.-Species:* Temognatha aestimata * Temognatha affinis...

    – About 83-85 species, found only in Australia and New Guinea, previously considered a subgenus of Stigmodera


Chrysochroinae
Chrysochroinae
Chrysochroinae is a subfamily of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following genera:* Achardella Obenberger, 1926* Afrochroa Holynski, 2001* Afrophorella Obenberger, 1942* Agelia Laporte & Gory, 1835...

  • Capnodis
    Capnodis
    Capnodis is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Capnodis anthracina * Capnodis antiqua Heer, 1847* Capnodis carbonaria...

  • Chalcophora
    Chalcophora
    Chalcophora is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Chalcophora alternans * Chalcophora anachoreta Szallies, 1991* Chalcophora angulicollis...

    • Chalcophora japonica
      Chalcophora japonica
      Chalcophora japonica, or ubatamamushi in Japanese , also known as the flat-headed wood-borer, is a metallic, bullet-shaped, woodboring beetle of the Buprestidae family. It is endemic to Japan.-Habitat and appearance:This insect is commonly found on the islands of Honshū, Shikoku and Kyūshū...

      – Flat-headed Wood-borer, ubatamamushi (Japanese)
  • Chrysochroa
    Chrysochroa
    Chrysochroa is a genus of metallic wood-boring beetles. Most of the many species are native to Southeast Asian nations such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. However, a good number are found in India, one Chrysochroa is a genus of metallic wood-boring beetles. Most of the many species...

  • Chrysodema
    Chrysodema
    Chrysodema is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Chrysodema akiyamai Holynski, 1994* Chrysodema alberti Lander, 2000* Chrysodema andamana Kerremans, 1895...

    Laporte & Gory, 1835 (= Cyalithoides)
  • Halecia
    Halecia
    Halecia is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Halecia acutipennis * Halecia allecto Obenberger, 1958* Halecia angulosa...

  • Lampetis
    Lampetis
    Lampetis is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Lampetis abbreviata * Lampetis abdita * Lampetis achardi * Lampetis adonis...

    Dejean, 1833 – sometimes included in the tribe
    Tribe (biology)
    In biology, a tribe is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes.Some examples include the tribes: Canini, Acalypheae, Hominini, Bombini, and Antidesmeae.-See also:* Biological classification* Rank...

     Psilopterini, but actually not very close to Psiloptera (tentatively placed here)
  • Lampropepla

  • Perotis
    Perotis (beetle)
    Perotis is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Perotis aereiventris Reiche, 1861* Perotis bruckmanni Heer, 1862* Perotis chloranus * Perotis cupratus...

  • Psiloptera
    Psiloptera
    Psiloptera is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Psiloptera acroptera * Psiloptera anilis Gistel, 1857* Psiloptera argyrophora...

    (tentatively placed here)

Galbellinae
  • Galbella
    Galbella
    Galbella is a subfamily of beetles in the family Buprestidae, placed in the monotypic subfamily Galbellinae. It contains the following species:* Galbella abyssinica Kerremans, 1899* Galbella acaciae Descarpentries & Mateu, 1965...


Julodinae
Julodinae
Julodinae is a subfamily of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following genera:* Aaata Semenov-Tian-Shanskij, 1906* Amblysterna Saunders, 1871* Julodella Semenov-Tian-Shanskij, 1871* Julodis Eschscholtz, 1829...

  • Aaata
    Aaata
    Aaata is a genus of beetles belonging to the Buprestidae family.-Species:There is only one species in this genus. It is found in Baluchistan and is one of the largest species of the Buprestidae family, reaching up to 7 cm in length....

  • Amblysterna
    Amblysterna
    Amblysterna is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Amblysterna johnstoni Waterhouse, 1885* Amblysterna natalensis...

  • Julodella
    Julodella
    Julodella is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Julodella abeillei * Julodella abyssinica * Julodella bicolor * Julodella brevilata...

  • Julodis
    Julodis
    Julodis is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Julodis aeneipes Saunders, 1869* Julodis aequinoctialis * Julodis albomaculata * Julodis algirica Laporte, 1835...


  • Neojulodis
    Neojulodis
    Neojulodis is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Neojulodis bequaerti * Neojulodis bouyeri Holm, 1986* Neojulodis clermonti...

  • Sternocera
    Sternocera
    Sternocera is a genus of beetles belonging to the Buprestidae family.-Characteristics:There are 26 species in this genus. Some species—S. aequisignata and S...



Polycestinae
Polycestinae
Polycestinae is a subfamily of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following genera:* Acmaeodera Eschscholtz, 1829* Acmaeoderella Cobos, 1955* Acmaeoderoides Van Dyke, 1942* Acmaeoderopsis Barr, 1974...

  • Acmaeodera
    Acmaeodera
    Acmaeodera is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Acmaeodera abyssinica Kerremans, 1909* Acmaeodera acaciae Mayet, 1887* Acmaeodera acanthicola Barr, 1972* Acmaeodera actites Westcott, 2002...


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