Sternocera aequisignata[1][2] is a species of jewel beetles belonging to the subfamily Julodinae. Its bright metallic green elytra are frequently used in jewellery making.
| Sternocera aequisignata | |
|---|---|
| |
| Sternocera aequisignata from Myanmar | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Buprestidae |
| Subfamily: | Julodinae |
| Genus: | Sternocera |
| Species: | S. aequisignata
|
| Binomial name | |
| Sternocera aequisignata E. Saunders, 1866
| |
Description
editSternocera aequisignata can reach a length of about 30–50 millimetres (1.2–2.0 in). Elytra and pronotum have a beautiful metallic emerald iridescence that shows no to very weak reflectance in the near-infrared.[3] The Pronotum is densely punctured.
Distribution
editThis species occurs across southern Asia,[2] including India, Myanmar, Thailand to southern Vietnam.[4]
Lifecyle
editThe 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.[5] 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.[5] 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.[6]
Relationship to humans
editAs food
editS. aequisignata and the similar S. ruficornis are both consumed by humans as a source of food in northern Thailand, Laos, and China.[7] This is one of the major sources of their decline in that area.[6]
In jewellery making
editThe bright metallic green elytra of S. aequisignata are collected and used as a material in jewellery making.[6][7]
References
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ Mielewczik, Michael; Liebisch, Frank; Walter, Achim; Greven, Hartmut (2012). "Near-Infrared (NIR)-Reflectance in Insects – Phenetic Studies of 181 Species" (PDF). Entomologie heute. 23: 183–215.
- ^ 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
edit- "Sternocera aequisignata" at the Encyclopedia of Life
Data related to Sternocera aequisignata at Wikispecies
