Gene"en/macrophotographycs
The infraorder Buprestiformia is a group of beetles belonging to the suborder Polyphaga, whose members are known for:
- Often elongated or streamlined shapes,
- A robust and shiny cuticle,
- Metallic or iridescent coloration in many species,
- A specialized larval biology, often linked to wood or internal plant tissues.
This group notably includes the superfamily Buprestoidea, with its emblematic family, the Buprestidae.
Superfamilies and Representative Families
Buprestiformia primarily contains the following superfamily:
- Buprestoidea
- Buprestidae (jewel beetles)
- A few associated fossil families
Some older or alternative classifications also included other families, but in modern taxonomy, Buprestidae is the main extant representative.
Ecology and Behavior
Species within Buprestiformia share common ecological traits:
- Endophytic or xylophagous larvae, living in stems, trunks, or under bark.
- An ecological role as decomposers of dead or weakened wood, or occasionally as pests of living plants.
- Flower-visiting or tree-dwelling adults, often seen basking in the sun.
Relevance in Macrophotography
Although this infraorder is little known to the general public, it is rich in photogenic subjects:
- Jewel beetles, with their metallic elytra and elegant shapes, are iconic subjects in entomological macrophotography.
- Their relatively stationary behavior on sunlit tree trunks makes close-up photography easier.
Distribution
Representatives of Buprestiformia are found on all continents, with maximum diversity in tropical regions, but also a strong presence in temperate European forests.
To Explore Within This Infraorder
🔎 Taxonomic Note: The infraorder Buprestiformia is sometimes included in Elateriformia in older classifications, but more recent frameworks consider it distinct due to specific morphological and larval characteristics.