Temognatha variabilis explained

Temognatha variabilis, commonly known as the variable jewel beetle, is a beetle of the family Buprestidae.

Description

Temognatha variabilis can reach a length of about . The body colour is highly variable, ranging from yellowish to dark red. Helytra are punctato-striate and may have black markings. The thorax usually show a median black area with yellow or bright red markings on each side. Head and legs are black with greenish reflections.^[1]

Larvae live in She-oak tree of Casuarina species (Casuarinaceae).

Distribution

This species can be found in southeastern Australia.^{[1] [2]}

See also

• Woodboring beetle

Bibliography

• Insects of Australia and New Zealand - R. J. Tillyard, Angus & Robertson, Ltd, Sydney, 1926, p217 (Stigmodera variabilis).
• Insects of Australia, George Hangay & Pavel German, Reed New Holland, 2000, p72.
• Peterson, Magnus., 1996: Aspects of female reproductive biology of two southwestern Australian Temognatha species Coleoptera Buprestidae. Records of the Western Australian Museum, 182: 203-208

Notes and References

1. http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_jewelbeetles/VariableJewel.htm Brisbane Insects
2. http://bie.ala.org.au/species/Temognatha+variabilis Atlas of Living Australia