Jewel beetles (Buprestidae)

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References for Jewel Beetles (family Buprestidae): https://sites.google.com/site/buprestidpages/

And a photo gallery for the family: https://sites.google.com/site/buprestidpages/buprestidae-gallery

This gallery can be searched by genus, for example, Castiarina:

https://sites.google.com/site/buprestidpages/castiarina-gallery

Another good gallery for Castiarina: http://www.virtual-beetle.com/castiarinafp.html

Jewel beetles (Buprestidae)

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Discussion

entom2 wrote:

25 Jan 2026

Definitely not Temognatha affinis, this is the 'red-on-lateral-margins-of-pronotum-mountain-country' form of Temognatha limbata. I have seen the same in the Blue Mountains (Kings Tableland). Nevertheless all 'forms' need to have their DNA analysed 'just in case' a cryptic species is hiding under an assumed name. I sometimes wonder about the 'forms' of Temognatha variabilis from far N.E. of NSW & S.E. QLD where the testaceous yellow lateral margins are typically much wider than in specimens of this species from further south, such as this one: https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/335689326 Cheers, Allen M. Sundholm

Temognatha limbata

MarkH wrote:

24 Jan 2026

This is an interesting colour pattern. At first glance it looks almost identical to T. limbata albeit with red sides to the pronotum rather than yellow. In addition the elytral apices seem smooth rather than having the small spine which is typical of T. affinis.
I have an affinis in my collection that has a similar vertebral stripe, albeit not quite as well defined as this specimen.
Ideally the specimen should be collected and lodged with the Australian National Insect Collection as it’s quite a unique pattern.
Because colours may be variable over different geographic areas I’m going with the lack of spine on the elytra as the determining characteristic and will call it T. limbata however having the specimen in hand could change that ID back to T. affinis.

Temognatha limbata

entom2 wrote:

19 Jan 2026

Hi Pirom, the specimen arrived safely, many kind thanks! Now that I have the specimen in hand I have been able to compare it with my curated Temognatha specimens and I advise this is actually Temognatha affinis, so is neither Temognatha limbata nor, as I hoped, Temognatha sanguinea. Nevertheless I very much appreciate the chance to sort this one out and provide definitive ID herewith. All the very best, Allen.

Temognatha affinis

entom2 wrote:

14 Jan 2026

Hi Pirom, could you possibly please post this dead specimen to me? I think this might be Temognatha sanguinea, not Temognatha limbata, as yours has more strongly bispinose elytra than Temognatha limbata has. Also, the pronotum is too shiny for T. limbata. There is a small chance it is T. affinis, but I dont think so. Either way If I could please be sent the specimen, handled extremely carefully (so as to not break any of its appendages) placed between wads of tissue in a takeaway container in a postal padded bag, I can make a definitive ID. I am on email at entom2@optusnet.com.au. and am on Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp as 'Allen Sundholm' Cheers, Allen M. Sundholm

Temognatha affinis

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

5 Jan 2026

Thanks for going the extra mile

Selagis caloptera