about 450 genera

The jewel beetles or metallic wood-boring beetles are a family Buprestidae of beetles known for their glossy iridescent colors. The family is among the largest of the beetles, with some 15,000 species known in 450 genera. The larger and more spectacularly colored jewel beetles are highly prized by insect collectors.

Shape is generally cylindrical or elongate to ovoid, with lengths ranging from 3 mm to an impressive 100 mm, although most species are under 20 mm. A variety of bright colors are known, often in complicated patterns.

The larva bore through roots, logs, stems, and leaves of various types of plants, ranging from trees to grasses. The wood boring types generally favor dying or dead branches on otherwise-healthy trees, while a few types attack green wood; some of these are serious pests capable of killing trees and causing major economic damage.

Classification is not yet well-established, although there appear to be five main lineages, which may be considered subfamilies, possibly with one or two being raised to families in their own right, while other systems define up to 14 subfamilies. The following subfamilies are generally agreed upon:

• Julodinae
• Polycestinae
• Buprestinae
• Agrilinae

Example species

• Bronze birch borer Agrilus anxius
• Emerald ash borer Agrilus planipennis

Reference

• C. L. Bellamy and G. H. Nelson , "Buprestidae", in Ross H. Arnett, Jr. and Michael C. Thomas, American Beetles (CRC Press, 2002), vol. 2

External links

• Jewel beetle site, with extensive lists of species and many photos
• Jewel beetles of Prague, with pictures
• Jewel beetles depicted on postage stamps