Hymenopteran-mimicry

Guides

Acmaeodera
Acmaeodera is a large genus of jewel beetles (family Buprestidae) with over 150 species in North America, reaching greatest diversity in the desert southwest and Mexico. Adults are metallic, often with distinctive color patterns, and are frequently observed visiting flowers to feed on pollen. The genus is distinguished by unique flight morphology: elytra are fused along the midline and remain closed during flight, functioning as a protective shield over the abdomen while only the hindwings provide propulsion. This trait, combined with abdominal banding in many species, creates a wasp-like appearance in flight and has led to recognition of several species as hymenopteran mimics. Larvae are wood-borers in twigs and branches of various woody plants.
Buprestidae jewel-beetles metallic-wood-boring-beetles flower-visitors pollen-feeders elytra-fusion flight-morphology hymenopteran-mimicry wood-borers North-America Mexico Arizona Texas California New-Mexico Oklahoma Alberta Asteraceae Cercocarpus spring-active monsoon-active fall-active taxonomically-difficult collector's-item diurnal Cerceris-prey