jewel beetle, metallic wood-boring 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 Bougainvillea and Stachytarpheta mutabilis in a large semi-urban yard & garden next to a disturbed remnant patch of forest in the equatorial tropics of northern New Guinea.

Notes:

"Newly emerged adults will have a coating of yellow wax dust, which obscures their metallic colors until worn off. This wax is only secreted once and often mistaken for pollen." http://www.godofinsects.com/index.php/mu...