Dicercina

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Superfamily: Buprestoidea
Family: Buprestidae
Subfamily: Chrysochroinae
Tribe: Dicercini
Subtribe: Dicercina

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Dicercina: /dɪˈsɜːrsɪnə/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Jewel Beetle (Dicerca divaricata) (8272944908) by Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE. Used under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license.

Reitter-1911-plate118 by Edmund Reitter
. Used under a Public domain license.

Georgiy Jacobson - Beetles Russia and Western Europe - plate 35 by see in description. Used under a Public domain license.

Dicerca lurida by Christina Butler. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Dicerca obscura SERC 10-13-15 0448 (22871934456) by Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Food of the Woodpeckers of the United States (1911) (14596927787) by F.E.L. Beal. Used under a No restrictions license.

Summary

Dicercina is a subtribe of metallic wood-boring beetles known for their distinctive appearance and wood-boring larvae, comprising at least 2 genera and around 750 species worldwide.

Physical Characteristics

Metallic coloration, typically hard-shelled, elongated body shape.

Identification Tips

Look for their characteristic metallic sheen and elongated form; often found on or near trees.

Habitat

Generally found in forested areas, where their larval stages develop in woody plants.

Distribution

Worldwide, with a significant presence in temperate and tropical regions.

Diet

Adults are known to feed on foliage, while larvae typically bore into wood as they develop.

Life Cycle

Life cycle includes egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages, with larvae developing within wood.

Reproduction

Mating habits vary by species but generally involve oviposition on or near host plants.

Predators

Natural predators may include birds, other insects, and mammals that feed on wood-boring beetles.

Conservation Status

Not assessed on a broad scale, though specific species may face threats from habitat destruction.

Ecosystem Role

Important as decomposers and for nutrient recycling; larvae contribute to wood decay.

Economic Impact

Potential pest status in forestry due to larval wood-boring activities, affecting timber quality.

Collecting Methods

Light trapping
Hand collecting from host plants
Bark peeling to find larvae

Preservation Methods

Pinning specimens
Alcohol preservation for soft-bodied forms

Similar Taxa

Other subtribes within Buprestidae such as Chalcophorini and Buprestini.

Misconceptions

Often mistaken for other types of beetles due to their metallic appearance, but they have specific ecological niches and behaviors.