Euchroma giganteum
| Euchroma giganteum | |
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| Euchroma giganteum - Ceiba Borer | |
| Scientific classification | |
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| Genus: | Euchroma Dejean, 1833
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| Species: | E. giganteum
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| Binomial name | |
| Euchroma giganteum | |
| Synonyms | |
Euchroma giganteum, 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]
Subspecies[edit]
- Euchroma giganteum giganteum (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Euchroma giganteum goliath (Laporte & Gory, 1836)
- Euchroma giganteum harperi Sharp, 1881
- Euchroma giganteum incum Obenberger, 1928
- Euchroma giganteum peruanum Obenberger, 1928
Description[edit]
Euchroma giganteum is one of the largest of the buprestid beetles (hence the Latin name "giganteum" 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. giganteum 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[edit]
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[edit]
Larvae 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[edit]
This species is native to Central and South America (Mexico, Panama, Ecuador, Cuba, Jamaica, 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]
Gallery[edit]
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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[edit]
- ^ Zoobank
- ^ Bellamy, C. L. (2010). "Genus Euchroma". A Checklist of World Buprestoidea. Retrieved 21 Jun 2011.
- ^ Biolib
- ^ a b c d Hogue, C.L. (1993) Latin American Insects and Entomology. University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles, California
- ^ 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
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Euchroma gigantea at Arkive.org". Archived from the original on 2013-04-14. Retrieved 2011-12-12.
- ^ Entomologi Italiani
- ^ M. Louise Nichols - - The Spermatogenesis of Euchroma Gigantea
External links[edit]
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