Congo Jewel Beetle vs Sunflower Maggot Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Congo Jewel Beetle Sunflower Maggot Fly
Scientific Name Sternocera castanea Strauzia longipennis
Order Coleoptera Diptera
Family Buprestidae Tephritidae
Size 30-50 mm 5-8 mm
Habitat Grasslands Grasslands
Diet Herbivores Leaf Miners
Regions West and Central Africa (Nigeria, Cameroon, DRC, Ghana) North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Congo Jewel Beetle

A large, brilliantly metallic jewel beetle with copper and green iridescent elytra. Adults are found on trees where they feed on foliage. Larvae are wood borers that develop inside tree roots.

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Did You Know?

The iridescent elytra of jewel beetles are used in traditional African and Asian jewelry, as their colors never fade.

Sunflower Maggot Fly

A picture-winged fruit fly whose larvae mine the stems of sunflowers. Adults have attractive amber-patterned wings.

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Did You Know?

Despite being common, it rarely causes economic damage to commercial sunflower crops.