Diet

• Adults: Primarily feed on leaves, flowers, pollen and tender plant tissues. Adults of some species may feed very little.

• Larvae: Develop as wood and stem borers, tunnelling beneath the bark and through the tissues of small branches and stems.

• Many species are associated with shrubs and small trees, although host plants differ among species.

Range

• Paragrilus is a diverse genus of small jewel beetles (Buprestidae) found mainly in the Americas, with particularly high diversity in tropical and subtropical regions.

• Numerous species occur in Mexico, including tropical regions of the Pacific coast and Guerrero.

• Paragrilus beetles occur in the Zihuatanejo area, where suitable woody vegetation provides habitat.

• Around Zihuatanejo, they are occasional; their small size and tendency to remain on stems and foliage make them easy to overlook.

Habitat

• Found in tropical dry forest, tropical deciduous forest, scrub, woodland, forest edges, gardens and secondary vegetation.

• Adults are most likely to be found on sun-exposed foliage, stems and small branches, particularly during warm weather.

• Look carefully at shrubs and young trees, where these tiny beetles may sit motionless against the stems.

• Larvae develop concealed beneath bark or within stems and branches.

Size

• Adult length: approximately 2–7 mm (0.08–0.28 in), depending on species.

• Body small, narrow and somewhat cylindrical or wedge-shaped.

• Many species are metallic green, blue, bronze, copper or dark brown, although some are relatively dull in colour.