Temognatha heros, the yellow jewel beetle or large jewel beetle, is a species of beetles belonging to the family Buprestidae.

Temognatha heros
Museum specimen
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Buprestidae
Genus: Temognatha
Species:
T. heros
Binomial name
Temognatha heros
Géhin, 1855 [1]

Description

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Temognatha heros can reach a length of about 60–80 millimetres (2.4–3.1 in).[2] It is the biggest within the genus Temognatha.[3] The basic body colour is yellowish-orange, while pronotum is dark reddish. Elytra are punctato-striate. Legs show a metallic blue color.

The adults feed on the flowers of various trees and shrubs (especially Eucalyptus leptophylla,[4] Eucalyptus foecunda, Melaleuca pauperiflora and Melaleuca uncinata.[5]

Larvae are wood-borers of Casuarina species, Eucalyptus gracilis, Eucalyptus oleosa, Eucalyptus foecunda and Melaleuca uncinata.[5]

Distribution

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This species is present in South and Western Australia (New South Wales and Victoria).[2][6] These beetles can be found in drainage basins and coastal and oceanic zones.[7]

References

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