Buprestidae
889690
225528186
2008-07-14T04:12:28Z
4.245.119.9
Fire beetle description
{{Taxobox
| name = Buprestidae
| image =BuprestisOctoguttata.jpg
| image_width = 220px
| image_caption = ''[[Buprestis octoguttata]]'', Germany
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Arthropod]]a
| classis = [[Insect]]a
| infraclassis = [[Neoptera]]
| superordo = [[Endopterygota]]
| ordo = [[Coleoptera]]
| subordo = [[Polyphaga]]
| infraordo = [[Elateriformia]]
| superfamilia = [[Buprestoidea]]
| familia = '''Buprestidae'''
| familia_authority = [[William Elford Leach|Leach]], 1815
| subdivision_ranks = [[Subfamilies]]
| subdivision =
[[Agrilinae]]<br />
[[Buprestinae]]<br />
[[Chrysochroinae]]<br />
[[Galbellinae]]<br />
[[Julodinae]]<br />
[[Polycestinae]]<br />
(but see text)
}}
'''Buprestidae''' is a [[family (biology)|family]] of [[beetle]]s, 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 collector]]s.
==Description==
Shape is generally cylindrical or elongate to ovoid, with lengths ranging from 3 [[millimetre|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]] common to these beetles is not due to pigments in the [[exoskeleton]], 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]] reflect multiple colors.
The [[larva]]e bore through roots, logs, stems, and leaves of various types of plants, ranging from [[tree]]s to [[grass]]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.
Species are also attracted to recently burned forests to lay their eggs. They can sense pine wood smoke for up to 50 miles away, and have a natural infrared ability that they use as they get closer to the forest fire to zero in. They will bite, and can form swarms of biting beetles in recently burned areas.
==Systematics==
Classification is not yet well-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, while other systems define up to 14 subfamilies. Subfamilies, with some representative genera and species, are:
* [[Agrilinae]] – cosmopolitan, with most taxa occurring in the northern hemisphere
** ''[[Agrilus anxius]]'' – [[Bronze Birch Borer]]
** ''[[Agrilus planipennis]]'' – [[Emerald Ash Borer]]
* [[Buprestinae]] – cosmopolitan
** ''[[Buprestis octoguttata]]''
** ''[[Calodema]]'' – found only in Australia and New Guinea, usually in rain forests
** ''[[Castiarina]]'' – about 500 species, found only in Australia and New Guinea, previously considered a [[subgenus]] of ''Stigmodera''
** ''[[Metaxymorpha]]'' – found only in Australia, New Guinea, and Indonesia. Usually in rain forests.
** ''[[Stigmodera]]'' – 7 species remain here
** ''[[Temognatha]]'' – About 83-85 species, found only in Australia and New Guinea, previously considered a subgenus of ''Stigmodera''
** ''[[Temognatha alternata]]''
* [[Chrysochroinae]]
** ''[[Chrysochroa]]'' – found across [[Southeast Asia]]; two species native to [[Japan]] and one to [[Africa]]
** ''[[Chrysochroa fulgidissima]]'' – [[Tamamushi]]
** ''[[Lampropepla rotschildi]]''
* [[Galbellinae]]
** ''[[Galbella]]''
* [[Julodinae]]
** ''[[Julodis ehrenbergii]]''
* [[Polycestinae]]
** ''[[Acmaeodera]]''
==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Acmaeodera.jpg|''[[Acmaeodera]]'' species
Image:Julodis ehrenbergii bl.jpg|''[[Julodis ehrenbergii]]'' from Greece
Image:Lrotschildi.jpg | ''[[Lampropepla rotschildi]]'' from [[Madagascar]]
Image:Temognatha attenuata. Jewel Beetle Cooktown.jpg | ''[[Temognatha alternata]]'' (2.6cm long). [[Cooktown]], Australia.
Image:Buprestid_nagerhole_green.jpg | A buprestid from India
Image:Jewel Beetle.JPG | A buprestid from Pune (India)
Image:Jewel Beetle 2.jpg | A buprestid from Atherton, Queensland (Australia)
Image:Wytsman.Genera.Insectorum.Buprestidae.01.jpg|Some buprestids from ''[[Genera Insectorum]]''
</gallery>
==References==
* {{aut|Bellamy, C.L. & Nelson, G.H.}} (2002): Buprestidae. ''In:'' {{aut| [[Ross H. Arnett, Jr.|Arnett, Ross H. Jr.]] & [[Michael C. Thomas|Thomas, Michael C.]]: ''[[American Beetles]]'' (Volume 2). CRC Press.
== External links ==
{{commonscat}}
{{wikispecies}}
* [http://utenti.romascuola.net/bups/jewel.htm Jewel beetle site, with extensive lists of species and many photos]
* [http://www.fond4beetles.com/Buprestidae/index.html The World of Jewel Beetles (Buprestidae Home Page)]
* [http://volny.cz/midge/buprang/jewelbeetles.htm Jewel beetles of Prague, with pictures]
* [http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/%7ECH2M-NITU/tamae.htm Jewel beetles depicted on postage stamps]
* [http://delta-intkey.com/elateria/www/bupr.htm Bibliography]
[[Category:Woodboring beetles]]
[[Category:Buprestidae|*]]
[[cs:Krascovití]]
[[de:Prachtkäfer]]
[[es:Buprestidae]]
[[fr:Buprestidae]]
[[it:Buprestidae]]
[[lt:Blizgiavabaliai]]
[[hu:Díszbogarak]]
[[nl:Prachtkevers]]
[[ja:タマムシ]]
[[pl:Bogatkowate]]
[[sv:Praktbaggar]]