metallic wood-boring beetle, jewel beetle

Description:

A metallic wood-boring beetle. Of the very large family Buprestidae, genus Cyphogastra. There are about 111 species in the genus, 44 in Papua. Many are metallic green so I've settled on the genus only. "The larger and more spectacularly colored jewel beetles are highly prized by insect collectors." Some species are serious pests. [See the images on: http://web.romascuola.net/bups/drmlands/... ]

Habitat:

Spotted on yellow walking iris (Neomarica longifolia) in a large semi-urban yard & garden next to a disturbed remnant patch of forest in the equatorial tropics of northern New Guinea.