Jewel Beetles

beetles · metallic colors · wood-borers · insects

Rainbow metal beetles. Jewel beetles have some of the most spectacular colors in the insect world, with shiny metallic greens, blues, reds, and golds that gleam like polished metal.

Wood-boring babies. The larvae of jewel beetles are called flatheaded borers because they tunnel through wood as they eat and grow, creating winding paths inside trees and logs.

Huge beetle family. With about 15,500 different species, jewel beetles are one of the largest families of beetles on Earth, found on nearly every continent.

Ancient beetles. Scientists have found fossils of jewel beetles that are millions of years old, showing that this family has been around for a very long time.