Jewel beetles are beetles known for their beautiful elytra and overall shiny appearance. There are over 15,500 species in this family that are distributed globally.
These beetles are separated into subfamilies, divided into several tribes consisting of genera.
1. Agrilinae
Agrilus
Anodontodora
Asymades
Brachys
Chalcophlocteis
Discoderoides
Entomogaster
Ethiopoeus
Madecorformica
Meliboeus
Pachyschelus
Paracylindromorphus
Paradorella
Pseudokerremansia
Strandietta
Burmagrilus
2. Buprestinae
Agrilozodes
Anthaxia
Bubastoides
Buprestis
Calodema
Castiarina
Chrysobothris
Colobogaster
Conognatha
Eurythyrea
Hiperantha
Metaxymorpha
Stigmodera
Temognatha
3. Chrysochroinae
Capnodis
Chalcophora
Chrysochroa
Chrysodema
Euchroma
Halecia
Lampetis
Lampropepla
Perotis
Psiloptera
4. Galbellinae
Galbella
5. Julodinae
Aaata
Amblysterna
Julodella
Julodis
Neojulodis
Sternocera
6. Polycestinae
Acmaeodera
Physical Description and Identification
Adult
Size: 0.12 to 3.15 in (0.3-8 cm); the average is 0.79 in (2 cm)
Color:Varied; all beetles in this family have a metallic sheen on their elytra, giving them an iridescent appearance.
Other Characteristic Features:They are generally cylindrical or ovoid.
Larva
Nicknamed “flatheaded borers”, the larvae are cream-colored with an enlarged head.
Pupa
Pupation occurs inside the host plant, within chambers excavated during the larval stage.
Egg
Females lay their eggs on the surface of the host plant so that on hatching, the larvae can begin burrowing into the wood.
Quick Facts
Other names
Metallic wood-boring beetles
Lifespan
3 weeks
Distribution
Worldwide
Habitat
Farmlands, forests, gardens, jungles, and woodlands
Predators
Birds, lizards, frogs, and toads
Seasons active
Spring to early Summer
Host Plants
Ash, fir, hemlock, pine, spruce, etc
Diet of adults
Leaves, nectar, roots, stems
Identifying the Damage Caused by Them
Some of these beetles, like the emerald ash borer, can cause massive damage to trees by chewing on their host plants’ roots, stems, or leaves. This can lead to considerable losses to orchards and crops.
Did You Know
English zoologist William Elford Leach, MD, FRS, first described these beetles in 1815.
Jewel beetles are very popular with collectors due to their appearance. Their elytra are often used in jewelry, commonly referred to as ‘beetlewing’ art.