Biology:Sternocera aequisignata
| Sternocera aequisignata | |
|---|---|
| |
| Sternocera aequisignata from Myanmar | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| 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 in 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.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Sternocera aequisignata Saunders, 1866". ITIS. 2017. https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=810029#null.
- ↑ GBIF: Sternocera aequisignata Saunders, 1866
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Hawkeswood, T.J.; Sommung, B. (2016). "Review of the biology of Sternocera aequisignata Saunders, 1866 (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in Thailand". Calodema 414: 1–6. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/306884648.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Pinkaew, Nantasak (2001). "Some Biological Aspects of Sternocera ruficornis Saunder, 1866 in Dry Dipterocarp Forest at Sakaerat Environmental Research Station". The Kasetsart Journal (Natural Sciences) 35 (2): 132–138. http://www.rdi.ku.ac.th/KU_Journal/Sciences/doc/KU35(2).pdf#page=22.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Victoria Z. Rivers (2011). "Beetles in Textiles". insects.org. https://www.insects.org/ced2/beetles_tex.html.
External links
Wikidata ☰ Q6670426 entry
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