Animal Species:Jewel Beetle
Jewel beetles belong to the family Buprestidae, which is a large group with about 1,200 species in Australia.
Jewel Beetle on twig
© Bruce Hulbert
Number of species
1,200
Identification
Jewel beetles are often brightly coloured, with some species having a metallic sheen that makes them popular with collectors.
Size range
3 mm- 75 mm
Distribution
Jewel beetles are found throughout Australia.
Distribution by collection data
Biomaps map of specimens of Buprestidae from the Australian Museum database
Habitat
Jewel beetles live in forests and woodlands, heath. Many are found in the Sydney region and can be seen feeding on and flying around flowers in heaths and woodlands. The larvae live in wood or, more rarely, softer plant stems, with some species feeding in dry leaves.
Economic/social impacts
On other continents, jewel beetles have been used in clothing, decorative boxes, sculptures and even religious shrines.
Classification
- Family:
- Buprestidae
- Superfamily:
- Buprestoidea
- Suborder:
- Polyphaga
- Order:
- Coleoptera
- Class:
- Insecta
- Subphylum:
- Uniramia
- Phylum:
- Arthopoda
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
Last Updated:
Tags beetles, insects, arthropods, invertebrates, identification, wildlife of sydney,
