Temognatha heros explained

Temognatha heros, the yellow jewel beetle or large jewel beetle, is a species of beetles belonging to the family Buprestidae.

Description

Temognatha heros can reach a length of about 60-.[1] It is the biggest within the genus Temognatha.[2] The basic body colour is yellowish-orange, while pronotum is dark reddish. Elytra are punctato-striate. Legs show a metallic blue color.

The adults feed on the flowers of various trees and shrubs (especially Eucalyptus leptophylla,[3] Eucalyptus foecunda, Melaleuca pauperiflora and Melaleuca uncinata.[4]

Larvae are wood-borers of Casuarina species, Eucalyptus gracilis, Eucalyptus oleosa, Eucalyptus foecunda and Melaleuca uncinata.[4]

Distribution

This species is present in South and Western Australia (New South Wales and Victoria).[1] [5] These beetles can be found in drainage basins and coastal and oceanic zones.[6]

Notes and References

  1. http://esperancewildlife.blogspot.it/2013/05/temognatha-heros-large-jewel-beetles.html Esperance Wildlife
  2. http://www.virtual-beetle.com/themognatha.html Virtual beetle
  3. http://www.ipernity.com/doc/kurakongolia/album/343517 Ipernity
  4. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1797&context=insectamundi A summary of the published data on host plants of Australia jewel beetles
  5. https://www.gbif.org/species/4728411 GBIF
  6. http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/online-resources/fauna/afd/taxa/Temognatha_heros Australian Biological Resources Study - Australian Faunal Directory