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Beetles of Zihuatanejo

ORDER COLEOPTERA

Jupoata Beetles
Jupoata (Genus)

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

-Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

-Insects (Class Insecta)

-Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)

-Beetles (Order Coleoptera​​)

-​Water, Rove, Scarab, Long-horned, Leaf, and Snout Beetles (Suborder Polyphaga)

-​Cucujiform Beetles (Infraorder Cucujiformia)

-Longhorn Beetles (Family Cerambycidae)​-

-​Round-necked Longhorn Beetles (Subfamily Cerambycinae)

-Tribe Cerambycini

-Genus Jupoata


Jupoata beetles are large, eye-catching longhorn beetles belonging to the genus Jupoata, in the family Cerambycidae. They are tropical insects best known for their metallic colors, elongated bodies, and very long antennae. The larvae are wood-borers that develop inside dead or dying trees, branches, or logs. Adults are usually active during the day (diurnal), and feed on nectar, pollen, sap, or plant juices.

Diet

  • Adults: Feed on plant sap, foliage, flowers and other plant material. Adult feeding varies among species.

  • Larvae: Wood-boring, developing within the stems, branches and trunks of woody plants, where they tunnel through the wood.

Range

  • Jupoata is a Neotropical genus of longhorn beetles occurring from Mexico through Central America and into South America.

  • Jupoata rufipennis is the species occurring in Mexico, with a broad distribution extending from Mexico and Central America through northern and southern South America.

  • In Mexico, it occurs in tropical and subtropical regions, including Guerrero and the broader Zihuatanejo region.

Habitat

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

  • Adults may be encountered on tree trunks, branches, foliage and flowers.

  • Larvae develop inside living, weakened or recently dead woody plants, where their tunnels contribute to the breakdown of woody material.

Size

  • Adult length: approximately 15–30 mm (0.6–1.2 in), depending on species.

  • Body elongated and robust, with long antennae characteristic of Cerambycidae.

  • Jupoata rufipennis is generally reddish-brown to dark brown, with reddish wing covers and a contrasting darker head and pronotum.

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