Hobbies And Interests
Appearance
Jewel beetles, also sometimes known as metallic or wood-boring beetles, are usually very colorful. They can be found in solid or patterned colors, such as blues, greens, browns, yellows and reds. The wings of the jewel beetle, which fold up on their back, are metallic or shiny in hue. The beetle may appear to change color in different lighting. Due to their striking appearance, jewel beetles were frequently used as jewelry. They have long, round bodies with short rounded heads. Their eyes are large. Jewel beetles can be smaller, growing only to a fraction of an inch, or large, and grow to about 3 inches long. Size, like color, patterning and exact appearance, depends on the specific jewel beetle species.
Habitat
Jewel beetle species can be found in Asia, Europe, North and South America, Africa, and Australia and its surrounding islands. Jewel beetles tend to live in grassy or woodland areas, where they have places to find food, as well as to lay their eggs.
Diet
Most adult jewel beetles subsist on nectar, and roam from plant to flowering plant to find it. Some adult jewel beetles have different feeding patterns, and may eat leaves or other leafy materials. Larval jewel beetles eat wood, hence the name wood-boring beetle. Occasionally, the larvae also eat soft plant materials, such as stems or leaves.
Life Cycle
Jewel beetles lead very short adult lives. Most jewel beetle types only live for a few days or weeks as adults, with some beetles dying after just one day. Jewel beetles start life as white larval grubs, usually inside trees, just under the bark. The young beetles subsist on the wood of the tree until they metamorphose into adult jewel beetles. The beetles then bore their way out of the tree, and fly off in search of a mate. This usually occurs in the spring and summer. The beetles then mate, lay their eggs, and die.