Temognatha variabilis

Temognatha alternata, commonly known as the variable jewel beetle, is a beetle of the family Buprestidae.

Temognatha variabilis
Temognatha variabilis. Mounted specimen.
A live individual of Temognatha variabilis.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Coleoptera
Family:
Buprestidae
Genus:
Temognatha
Species:
T. variabilis
Binomial name
Temognatha variabilis
(Donovan, 1805)
Synonyms
  • Stigmodera variabilis Donovan, 1805
  • Buprestis kingi Macleay, 1827
  • Stigmodera nigripennis Gory and Laporte, 1838
  • Stigmodera quinquefossulata Théry, 1911
  • Stigmodera unifasciata Gory and Laporte, 1838
  • Stigmodera cyaniventris Kerremans, 1900
  • Buprestis variabilis Donovan, 1805

[1]

Description

Temognatha alternata can reach a length of about 35 millimetres (1.4 in). The body colour is highly variable, ranging from yellowish to dark red. Helytra are punctato-striate and may have black markings. The thorax usually show a median black area with yellow or bright red markings on each side. Head and legs are black with greenish reflections.[2]

Larvae live in She-oak tree of Casuarina species (Casuarinaceae).

Distribution

This species can be found in southeastern Australia.[2][3]

See also

Bibliography
  • Insects of Australia and New Zealand - R. J. Tillyard, Angus & Robertson, Ltd, Sydney, 1926, p217 (Stigmodera variabilis ).
  • Insects of Australia, George Hangay & Pavel German, Reed New Holland, 2000, p72.
  • Peterson, Magnus., 1996: Aspects of female reproductive biology of two southwestern Australian Temognatha species Coleoptera Buprestidae. Records of the Western Australian Museum, 182: 203-208

References
  1. Discover Life
  2. Brisbane Insects
  3. Atlas of Living Australia


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