The Golden-Green Oak Jewel Beetle (Eurythyrea quercus)
Eurythyrea quercus belongs to the attractive family of jewel beetles and is a saproxylic (dependent on dead wood) species. The larvae develop in the stems of dead or dying oak trees where they feed in the sapwood and cambium. The adult beetles on the other hand are herbivores and feed mainly on flowers and leaves. Therefore this species requires a habitat consisting of old grown oaks surrounded by meadows, which is almost nonexistent in modern cultivated landscapes in Central Europe. This is the reason why this beetle species has become threatened in its existence nowadays. In the Czech Republic the golden-green oak jewel beetle is recognized as critically endangered according to the national red list. Today it almost exclusively occurs in man made habitats such as parks, tree alleys and pasture woodlands.
