- · Grid units represent actual meters (m); human and animals are drawn to the exact same scale with original silhouette aspect ratios preserved.
- · When a size range is recorded (e.g. 1–1.6m), the lower bound is used for scale comparison.
- · Yellow dashed line shows recorded total body length (including tail), which may differ from silhouette width due to posture.
- · Korean jewel beetle silhouette: PhyloPic — Crystal Maier · CC BY 3.0 (Buprestidae)
- · Human silhouette: PhyloPic — NASA · Public Domain Mark 1.0
Korean jewel beetle
Chrysochroa coreana (Korean jewel beetle · Korean jewel beetle)
Not Evaluated (NE) on the IUCN Red List yet.
🇰🇷 Class I endangered wildlife (Korea) · Natural Monument (Korea) «Korean jewel beetle»
💡 Everyday Comparisons for Size, Mass & Speed
- 💡 The elytra of the Korean jewel beetle were used in royal ornaments of the Silla dynasty, and Silla horse trappings excavated in Gyeongju in the early 1970s were also decorated with these elytra (explanation by the Korea Heritage Service).
- 💡 Its maximum body length of 40 mm is about 1.5 times the diameter of a Korean 500-won coin (26.5 mm) (Comparison).
Reference standards: coach bus ~12 m, mid-size car ~4.9 m, compact car ~1 t, basketball hoop 3.05 m, credit card 8.56 cm.
📖 1. Overview
The Korean jewel beetle is the largest jewel beetle in Korea, with a metallic green body. It is both a Class I endangered wildlife (Korea) and a Natural Monument (Korea).
🦴 2. Anatomy & Morphology
It is 30–40 mm long with two red stripes on the pronotum and elytra over a metallic green body. Males have protruding compound eyes and a golden-green underside.
🔍 3. Ecology & Behavior
Adults appear from early July, peak in mid-July, and disappear by mid-August. They lay eggs on dead or dying hackberry, zelkova, and persimmon trees, and the larvae feed on the wood inside.
🇰🇷 4. Connection to Korea
It is a Class I endangered wildlife (Korea) and was designated a Natural Monument (Korea) in 2008. In the past it lived in Jeolla-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Gangwon-do, and Jeju Island, but today it is confirmed only in parts of Jeollanam-do, Jeollabuk-do, and Gyeongsangnam-do.
📚 Sources & References
- • 멸종위기 야생생물 Ⅰ급 · 천연기념물 «비단벌레» — 국가생물종목록(국립생물자원관) ktsn 120000212953 — https://species.nibr.go.kr/home/mainHome.do?cont_link=009&subMenu=009002&contCd=009002&ktsn=120000212953
- • IUCN Red List: not evaluated (NE) — cross-checked with the Wikidata conservation-status entry
- • Korean protection status: Class I endangered wildlife (Korea) · Natural Monument (Korea) «Korean jewel beetle»
- • catalogueoflife.org — 5YNVJ
- • 국가생물종목록(국립생물자원관) ktsn 120000212953 — https://species.nibr.go.kr/home/mainHome.do?cont_link=009&subMenu=009002&contCd=009002&ktsn=120000212953
- • heritage.go.kr — culSelectDetail.do
- • wikidata.org — Q24855676
- • nie.re.kr — view.do
- • heritage.go.kr — cul 136ZZ04960000.html
- • bok.or.kr — contents.do
- • Silhouette: PhyloPic — Crystal Maier · CC BY 3.0 (Related taxon silhouette — Buprestidae)
Recorded dimensions are widely cited representative estimates from public literature and may vary by study or specimen.