| Buprestidae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Agrilinae (bottom row),Chrysochroinae (top row, left 3), andBuprestinae (others) fromGenera Insectorum | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Polyphaga |
| Infraorder: | Elateriformia |
| Superfamily: | Buprestoidea |
| Family: | Buprestidae Leach, 1815 |
| Subfamilies | |
Agrilinae | |
Buprestidae is afamily ofbeetles known asjewel beetles ormetallic wood-boring beetles because of their glossyiridescent colors. Larvae of this family are known asflatheaded borers. The family is among the largest of the beetles, with some 15,500species known in 775genera. In addition, almost 100 fossil species have been described.[1]
The larger and more spectacularly colored jewel beetles are highly prized byinsect collectors. Theelytra of some Buprestidae species have been traditionally used inbeetlewing jewellery and decoration in certain countries in Asia, like India, Thailand and Japan.
Shape is generally cylindrical or elongate to ovoid, with lengths ranging from 3 to 80 mm (0.12 to 3.15 in), although most species are under 20 mm (0.79 in).Catoxantha,Chrysaspis,Euchroma andMegaloxantha contain the largest species. A variety of bright colors are known, often in complicated patterns. Theiridescence common to these beetles is not due to pigments in theexoskeleton, but instead is caused bystructural coloration, in which microscopic texture in their cuticle selectively reflects specific frequencies of light in particular directions. This is the same effect that makes acompact disc reflect multiple colors.
Thelarvae bore through roots, logs, stems, and leaves of various types of plants, ranging fromtrees tograsses. 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, such as the invasiveemerald ash borer. Some species are attracted to recently burned forests to lay their eggs. They can sensepine wood smoke from up to 50 miles away, and can seeinfrared light, helping them to zero in as they get closer to aforest fire.[2]
Ten species of flatheaded borers of the family Buprestidae feed onspruce andfir, buthemlock is their preferred food source (Rose and Lindquist 1985).[3] As withroundheaded borers, most feeding occurs in dying or dead trees, or close to injuries on living trees. Damage becomes abundant only where a continuing supply of breeding material is available. The life history of these borers is similar to that of the roundheaded borers, but some exceedingly long life cycles have been reported under adverse conditions. Full-grownlarvae, up to 25 mm long, are characteristically flattened, the anterior part of the body being much broader than the rest. The bronzed adults are usually seen only where suitable material occurs in sunny locations.
Jewel beetle classification is not yet robustly 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. Some other systems define up to 14 subfamilies.
The earliest unambiguous members of the family are known from theMiddle Jurassic, around 160 million years ago, earlier claimed records from the Triassic based on isolatedelytra are not definitive.[4]
The commonly accepted subfamilies, with some representative genera, are:
Agrilinae – cosmopolitan, with most taxa occurring in the Northern Hemisphere
Buprestinae – cosmopolitan
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