Green Jewel/Flower Beetle Smaragdesthes (Prev. Chlorocala) africana africana

There are several subspecies of Smaragdesthes africana in metallic purple, blue, green and red colours. They are called both Jewel and Flower Beetles. (Another family of beetles is also called Jewel beetles.)

S. a. africana, the Green Jewel/Flower Beetle (shown above with the Purple Jewel Beetle), is native to forests of the central part of tropical Africa. Adults are between 2 and 3 cm long. They live in groups and are active by day, flying well. Their diet is rotting fruit.