Jewel-beetle
Guides
Polycesta hageni
Polycesta hageni is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Barr in 1949. It is endemic to North America. Like other members of the genus Polycesta, it is associated with woody host plants, though specific biological details remain poorly documented. The species is rarely encountered and has only a handful of documented observations.
Polycesta tularensis
Polycesta tularensis is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Chamberlin in 1938. It belongs to the subgenus Tularensia within the genus Polycesta. The species is known from North America, with its specific epithet suggesting an association with Tulare County or the Tulare region of California. Like other members of its genus, it likely develops in dead or dying wood of its host plants.
Prasinalia
Prasinalia is a genus of jewel beetles (family Buprestidae) established by Casey in 1909. The genus contains at least two recognized species: Prasinalia cuneata (Horn, 1868) and Prasinalia imperialis (Barr, 1969). Based on field observations by buprestid specialists, species in this genus are considered significant finds for collectors and are associated with western North American habitats, particularly in southern California and the southwestern United States.
Prasinalia imperialis
Algodones White Wax Jewel Beetle
Prasinalia imperialis is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, commonly known as the Algodones White Wax Jewel Beetle. It is endemic to the Algodones Dunes of North America, with an extremely restricted geographic range. The species is rarely observed, with only five documented observations on iNaturalist. As a member of the jewel beetle family, it likely exhibits the characteristic metallic coloration and wood-boring larval habits typical of Buprestidae, though specific details remain poorly documented.
Ptosima idolynae
Ptosima idolynae is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Frost in 1923. It is one of few documented species in the genus Ptosima, which contains small to medium-sized jewel beetles. The species is known from North America, though specific details about its biology remain poorly documented.
Ptosima laeta
Texas redbud borer
Ptosima laeta, commonly known as the Texas redbud borer, is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It was described by Waterhouse in 1882. The species is found in Central America and North America. As a member of Buprestidae, it belongs to a family commonly referred to as jewel beetles or metallic wood-boring beetles, characterized by their often striking metallic coloration and larvae that bore into wood.
Ptosima walshii
Ptosima walshii is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by LeConte in 1863. It belongs to a genus of jewel beetles characterized by their distinctive coloration. The species occurs in North America within the Nearctic realm.
Spectralia
Spectralia is a genus of jewel beetles (family Buprestidae) established by Casey in 1909. The genus contains approximately 22 described species distributed primarily in North America. Species within this genus are associated with woody host plants, particularly oaks (Quercus) and persimmons (Diospyros). Larvae develop in dead or dying branches, often in the transition zone between living and dead wood. Adults are active during spring and early summer and have been documented visiting flowers.
Spectralia gracilipes
Spectralia gracilipes is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It was originally described as Dicerca gracilipes by Melsheimer in 1845. The species occurs in North America, with records from the northeastern United States and Canada. It has been collected from Cerceris fumipennis wasp provisioning sites, indicating it is preyed upon by this crabronid wasp.
Spectralia prosternalis
Spectralia prosternalis is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Schaeffer in 1904. The genus Spectralia comprises small to medium-sized jewel beetles with distinctive coloration. This species is recorded from North America. Members of this genus are typically associated with woody plants, though specific host relationships for S. prosternalis remain undocumented.
Sphaerobothris platti
Sphaerobothris platti is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It was described by Cazier in 1938. The species is known from southern California, with records from San Diego County, and is part of the genus Sphaerobothris, which belongs to the tribe Coraebini within the subfamily Agrilinae.
Strigoptera bimaculata
Strigoptera bimaculata is a tropical jewel beetle (Buprestidae) and the type species of its genus. It belongs to the tribe Polycestini. The species has been documented across Southeast Asia extending to Northern Australia, with a westernmost record from Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. Available information is limited primarily to taxonomic and distributional data.
Taphrocerus gracilis
Taphrocerus gracilis is a small metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species has been studied in Missouri for its host plant associations and life history. Its biology is closely tied to specific plant hosts, with documented relationships to certain monocot species.
Taphrocerus howardi
Taphrocerus howardi is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Obenberger in 1934. The species belongs to the genus Taphrocerus, a group of small jewel beetles whose larvae typically develop in herbaceous plants rather than woody hosts. It is found in North America.
Taphrocerus leoni
Taphrocerus leoni is a species of jewel beetle (family Buprestidae) described by Dugès in 1891. The species was historically considered Mexican but has been documented in the United States, with confirmed records from upper Miller Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains of southeastern Arizona. Adults are associated with sedges and can be collected by sweeping vegetation in riparian areas. The species is distinguished from congeners by its larger size, shiny appearance, and distinct pubescent maculations.
Taphrocerus nicolayi
Taphrocerus nicolayi is a metallic wood-boring beetle (family Buprestidae) first described by Obenberger in 1924. The species occurs in North America, with confirmed records from Ontario, Canada. Like other members of the genus Taphrocerus, it is a small jewel beetle with larvae that develop in herbaceous vegetation rather than woody plants, distinguishing it from many other buprestids.
Texania langeri
metallic wood-boring beetle
Texania langeri is a species of jewel beetle in the family Buprestidae, known for its metallic coloration typical of the tribe Chrysochroini. The species was described by Chevrolat in 1853 and occurs in North America. Like other members of the genus Texania, it is part of the 'classic' jewel beetle group characterized by brilliant, often iridescent coloration.
Thrincopyge
jewel beetles
Thrincopyge is a genus of jewel beetles (family Buprestidae) in the subfamily Polycestinae. The genus contains three described species: T. alacris, T. ambiens, and T. marginata. Adults are known for their striking metallic coloration, typically combining blue or green with vivid yellow. Larvae develop within the dried flowering stalks of sotol plants (Dasylirion spp.), while adults conceal themselves at the base of the plants among the long, strap-like leaves. The genus occurs in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
Thrincopyge alacris
Thrincopyge alacris is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The genus Thrincopyge comprises jewel beetles associated with sotol plants (Dasylirion species), where larvae bore through dried flower stalks and adults wedge themselves in the leaf bases. This species occurs in Central America and North America.
Thrincopygini
Thrincopygini is a tribe of jewel beetles within the subfamily Polycestinae. Members exhibit the characteristic metallic coloration typical of Buprestidae. The tribe is distinguished by specific morphological features of the male genitalia and antennal structure. Observations suggest moderate diversity with limited documentation in public databases.
Tracheini
Tracheini is a tribe of leaf-mining jewel beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in the subfamily Agrilinae. The tribe comprises primarily two genera: Habroloma and Trachys. These beetles are characterized by their small size and specialized larval habit of mining leaves of woody and herbaceous plants. Adults are typically found on host plant foliage. The tribe has a cosmopolitan distribution with notable diversity in Japan (32 species recorded) and South America. Two new Japanese species, Habroloma elaeocarpusi and H. taxillusi, were described in 2023, expanding known host associations to include Elaeocarpaceae and Loranthaceae.
Trachykele blondeli blondeli
Trachykele blondeli blondeli is a subspecies of jewel beetle (family Buprestidae) native to western North America. Studies conducted in the 1920s at Pender Harbour, British Columbia, documented its association with red cedar (Thuja plicata), with larvae developing within the wood of living or recently dead trees. The species is among the few Buprestidae for which detailed life history investigations have been attempted, though much remains unknown about its biology.
Trachykele blondeli cupreomarginata
A subspecies of jewel beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Helfer in 1953. Belongs to the subtribe Trachykelina within the tribe Buprestini. The specific epithet 'cupreomarginata' suggests copper-colored marginal features, though detailed morphological descriptions specific to this subspecies are not readily available in the provided sources.
Trachykele fattigi
Trachykele fattigi is a species of jewel beetle (family Buprestidae) described by Knull in 1954. It belongs to the genus Trachykele, which is placed in the subtribe Trachykelina within the tribe Buprestini. The species is part of the Nearctic fauna of North America. Very little specific information about its biology, host associations, or distribution has been published in accessible sources.
Trachykele hartmani
Serpentine Cypress Wood-boring Beetle
Trachykele hartmani is a small jewel beetle (family Buprestidae) described by Burke in 1920. It is one of approximately 50 species in the genus Trachykele, a group of wood-boring beetles primarily associated with coniferous hosts. The species is known from the Nearctic region of North America. Like other members of the subtribe Trachykelina, it likely develops in the wood of cypress or related Cupressaceae, though specific host records for this species are not well documented. The common name "Serpentine Cypress Wood-boring Beetle" suggests an association with cypress species.
Trachykele lecontei
Trachykele lecontei is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, a group commonly known as jewel beetles. The species was described by Gory in 1841 and is native to North America. Like other members of its genus, it belongs to the subtribe Trachykelina within the tribe Buprestini. Specific details regarding its biology, host associations, and habitat preferences remain poorly documented in available sources.
Trachykele nimbosa
nimbose buprestid
Trachykele nimbosa, known as the nimbose buprestid, is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species was described by Fall in 1906. It is distributed in North America, with records from British Columbia, Canada. The genus Trachykele belongs to the subtribe Trachykelina within the tribe Buprestini.
Trachykele opulenta
Trachykele opulenta is a jewel beetle species in the family Buprestidae, first described by Fall in 1906. It belongs to the subtribe Trachykelina within the tribe Buprestini. The species is part of the Nearctic fauna and has been recorded from British Columbia, Canada. Like other members of its genus, it is a metallic wood-boring beetle with larvae that develop in wood.
Trachys
Leaf-mining Jewel Beetles
Trachys is a genus of leaf-mining jewel beetles (Buprestidae: Trachyinae) characterized by their flattened, compact, wedge-shaped adult morphology—an adaptation distinct from the elongate cylindrical form typical of most buprestids. The genus contains approximately 20 species in Japan and is widely distributed from Africa through Asia to Europe. Larvae mine within leaves rather than boring through wood, a habit that has driven their distinctive body plan. Some species are significant forest and agricultural pests, including the introduced Trachys minutus established in Massachusetts and T. yanoi, a serious pest of Zelkova serrata in East Asia.
Trachys minutus
elm leaf miner
Trachys minutus is a small jewel beetle (Buprestidae) measuring 3–3.5 mm in length. It is native to Europe and the eastern Palearctic region and has been introduced to North America, where it is established in Massachusetts. The species is notable for its leaf-mining larvae, which feed on the mesophyll of elm leaves. Females oviposit directly on leaf surfaces, and the resulting larvae create characteristic blotch mines. Two subspecies are recognized: T. m. minutus and T. m. salicis.
Trichinorhipis knulli
Knull's Metallic Wood-boring Beetle
Trichinorhipis knulli is a minute jewel beetle (family Buprestidae) endemic to southern California, where it occurs in Riverside and Imperial Counties. It is the sole member of its monotypic genus, distinguished from related genera by its entire elytra covering the full abdomen and broadly rounded pronotum lacking lateral margins. Males exhibit highly modified flabellate antennae with expanded lamellae bearing numerous olfactory sensillae, an adaptation for detecting female sex pheromones. The species is rarely encountered in the field; most specimens have been reared from dead branches of jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis). At 3.6 mm, it is among the smallest buprestids.
Trigonogya reticulaticollis
Trigonogya reticulaticollis is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It was described by Schaeffer in 1904 and is known from the Nearctic region. The species belongs to a small genus of buprestid beetles characterized by triangular body shapes. Available records for this species are extremely limited, with only one documented observation in iNaturalist.
Xenorhipis brendeli
Xenorhipis brendeli is a metallic wood-boring beetle (family Buprestidae) notable for extreme sexual dimorphism in antennae. Males possess highly modified, flabellate (comb-like) antennae with expanded distal segments covered in olfactory sensillae, while females retain the unmodified serrate antennae typical of the family. This species is the only member of its tribe occurring in eastern North America, ranging west to Minnesota and eastern Texas. Adults are short-lived, with males living no longer than 48 hours, and exhibit a narrow daily activity window focused on mate location via female-released pheromones.