Sternocera aequisignata
Sternocera aequisignata | |
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Sternocera aequisignata from Myanmar | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Coleoptera |
Family: | Buprestidae |
Subfamily: | Julodinae |
Genus: | Sternocera |
Species: | S. aequisignata
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Binomial name | |
Sternocera aequisignata E. Saunders, 1866
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Sternocera aequisignata[1][2] is a species of jewel beetles belonging to the subfamily Julodinae. Its bright metallic green elytra are frequently used jewellery making.
Description[]
Sternocera aequisignata can reach a length of about 30–50 millimetres (1.2–2.0 in). Elytra and pronotum have a beautiful metallic emerald iridescence. Pronotum is densely punctured.
Distribution[]
This species occurs across southern Asia,[2] including India, Myanmar, Thailand to southern Vietnam.[3]
Lifecyle[]
The female lays eggs singly in soil at the base of the host plants. Each female is capable of laying 5–12 eggs, which take 2 months to hatch.[4] The hatched larva has five instar stages. Stages 1 to 4 remain in the soil for 3–4 months where they feed upon the roots of the adult host plants.[4] The 5th instar can be found above ground, until it returns underground again to pupate. Adult beetles have a short lifespan of 1–3 weeks, though the complete life cycle takes up to two years.[5]
Relationship to humans[]
As food[]
S. aequisignata and the similar S. ruficornis are both consumed by humans as a source of food in northern Thailand, Laos, and China.[6] This is one of the major sources of their decline in that area.[5]
In jewellery making[]
The bright metallic green elytra of S. aequisignata are collected and used as a material in jewellery making.[5][6]
References[]
- ^ Saunders E (1866) Catalogue of Buprestidae collected by the late M. Mouhot, in Siam &c., with descriptions of new species. Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London (3) 5(1865-1867): 297-322.
- ^ a b "Sternocera aequisignata Saunders, 1866". ITIS. 2017. Retrieved 2017-02-10.
- ^ GBIF: Sternocera aequisignata Saunders, 1866
- ^ a b Hawkeswood, T.J.; Sommung, B. (2016). "Review of the biology of Sternocera aequisignata Saunders, 1866 (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in Thailand". Calodema. 414: 1–6.
- ^ a b c Pinkaew, Nantasak (2001). "Some Biological Aspects of Sternocera ruficornis Saunder, 1866 in Dry Dipterocarp Forest at Sakaerat Environmental Research Station" (PDF). The Kasetsart Journal (Natural Sciences). 35 (2): 132–138. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-07-06.
- ^ a b Victoria Z. Rivers (2011). "Beetles in Textiles". insects.org. Retrieved 2017-02-10.
External links[]
- Sternocera aequisignata at Encyclopedia of life
Data related to Sternocera aequisignata at Wikispecies
- Buprestidae
- Beetles described in 1866
- Beetles of Asia
- Edible insects
- Taxa named by Edward Saunders (entomologist)