Jewel Beetle (Damarsila)

Family Buprestidae

A large beetle about 2.5cm in length.

 All jewel beetles have the same body shape and come in a variety of colours, some metallic.

Adults feed on nectar, pollen and foliage.

Adults are short-lived but immatures can take up to 35 years to complete their development, longer than any other insect.

Glittering Jewel Beetle (Acmaeodera viridaenea) Buprestidae

We have many species of Jewel Beetles (buprestidae) here, and they vary in length from 2-50mm. There eyes are very large and adults feed on nectar, pollen and foliage. Females lay their eggs in bark crevices.
Larvae excavates oval tunnels in wood or the stems of herbaceous plants. Adults are relatively short lived, but immatures can take up to 35 years to complete their developement, longer than any other insect.

Giant Jewel Beetle (Sternocera orissa)

Giant Jewel Beetle (Sternocera orissa) Family Buprestidae
This has a body length of about 1 1/2 - 2 inches in length. Everytime I saw him he seemed to be hanging onto something. LOL!! They are clumsy fliers and the female lays her very large eggs in the ground. (Sternocera orissa)