Euchroma gigantea

Euchroma gigantea, the Metallic Wood Boring Beetle or Giant Metallic Ceiba Borer, is a species of beetle in the family Buprestidae, the only species in the genus Euchroma.[2]

Euchroma gigantea
Euchroma gigantea - Ceiba Borer
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Coleoptera
Suborder:
Polyphaga
Superfamily:
Buprestoidea
Family:
Buprestidae
Genus:
Euchroma

Dejean, 1833
Species:
E. gigantea
Binomial name
Euchroma gigantea
Synonyms

Subspecies

[3][4][5]

Description

Euchroma gigantea is one of the largest of the buprestid beetles (hence the Latin name "gigantea" of the species), reaching a length of about 50–80 millimetres (2.0–3.1 in).[6]

Catoxantha and Megaloxantha are among the few other members of the family that reach a comparable size.[7]

The body of E. gigantea is robust and elongated and the elytra have a wrinkled surface and a metallic green colour with reddish or purplish tinges. The pronotum has a dark spot on each side.[6][4] The larvae reach a length of about 12–15 centimetres (4.7–5.9 in).[6] The elytra of newly emerged adults have a coating of a yellowish, waxy powder. As the beetle ages this powder wear off.[4]

Behavior

The males apparently attract the females by a clicking sound produced by the elytra.[6] This species usually mates in August.[6][8] The larvae are miners of fallen timber, while adults are usually found walking around on the trunks of trees.

Diet

Larva feed on decaying timber, especially of the Bombacaceae family (kapok or ceiba trees, mainly Ceiba pentandra , Bombacopsis spp., Ochroma spp. and Pseudobombax spp.), but also of Araucaria angustifolia and Ficus species.[6]

Distribution and habitat

This species is native to Central and South America (Mexico, Panama, Ecuador, Cuba, Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina y Venezuela (Guarenas-Naranjal)).[6] It lives in warm Amazon regions up to elevations of 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) above sea level.[6][4]

  • Euchroma gigantea from Brazil, mounted specimen at National Museum (Prague)
  • Euchroma gigantea from Sammlung Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde, Karlsruhe
  • A live individual of Euchroma gigantea
  • Live specimen in Peru, on human hand

References
  1. Zoobank
  2. Bellamy, C. L. (2010). "Genus Euchroma". A Checklist of World Buprestoidea. Retrieved 21 Jun 2011.
  3. Biolib
  4. Hogue, C.L. (1993) Latin American Insects and Entomology. University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles, California
  5. Moura, R.C., Melo, N.F. and Souza, M.J. (2008) High levels of chromosomal differentiation in Euchroma gigantea L. 1735 (Coleoptera, Buprestidae). Genetics and Molecular Biology, 31(2): 431-437
  6. "Euchroma gigantea at Arkive.org". Archived from the original on 2013-04-14. Retrieved 2011-12-12.
  7. Entomologi Italiani
  8. M. Louise Nichols - - The Spermatogenesis of Euchroma Gigantea


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