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.
Subspecies 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 BiolibMoura, 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
Description Euchroma giganteum is one of the largest of the buprestid beetles (hence the Latin name "giganteum" of the species), reaching a length of about .
Catoxantha and Megaloxantha are among the few other members of the family that reach a comparable size.Entomologi Italiani
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.Hogue, C.L. (1993) Latin American Insects and Entomology. University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles, California The larvae reach a length of about . The elytra of newly emerged adults have a coating of a yellowish, waxy powder. As the beetle ages this powder wear off.
Behavior The males apparently attract the females by a clicking sound produced by the elytra. This species usually mates in August.M. Louise Nichols - - The Spermatogenesis of Euchroma Gigantea The larvae are miners of fallen timber, while adults are usually found walking around on the trunks of trees.
Diet 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.
Distribution and habitat This species is native to Central and South America (Mexico, Panama, Ecuador, Cuba, Jamaica, Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina y Venezuela (Guarenas-Naranjal)). It lives in warm Amazon regions up to elevations of above sea level.
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External links God of insects Living Jewels