CD473 Jewel Beetle Necklace

    Visit to Insectropolis with Brian, Nana and Papa, August 2009.

    From Wikipedia:

    "Buprestidae is a family of beetles, known as jewel beetles or metallic wood-boring beetles because of their glossy iridescent colors. The family is among the largest of the beetles, with some 15,000 species known in 450 genera. The larger and more spectacularly colored jewel beetles are highly prized by insect collectors.

    The larvae bore through roots, logs, stems, and leaves of various types of plants, ranging from trees to grasses. 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 wood smoke for up to 50 miles away, and can see infrared 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."

    Museum Homepage

    keyboard shortcuts: ← previous photo → next photo L view in light box F favorite < scroll film strip left > scroll film strip right ? show all shortcuts