''Chrysochroa fulgidissima'', "jewel beetle" or Yamato tamamushi in Japanese (ヤマトタマムシ) is a metallic woodboring beetle of the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Buprestidae Buprestidae is a family (biology), family of beetles known as jewel beetles or metallic wood-boring beetles because of their glossy Iridescence, iridescent colors. Larvae of this family are known as flatheaded borers. The family is among the lar ...

Characteristics

This beetle is native to

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

and

Korea Korea is a peninsular region in East Asia consisting of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and smaller islands. Since the end of World War II in 1945, it has been politically Division of Korea, divided at or near the 38th parallel north, 3 ...

. It is typically found in woods or forests during summer under the strong sunshine and can grow between in length. The Tamamushi Shrine, an

Asuka Period The was a period in the history of Japan lasting from 538 to 710, although its beginning could be said to overlap with the preceding Kofun period. The Yamato period, Yamato polity evolved greatly during the Asuka period, which is named after the ...

miniature shrine located at Hōryū-ji Temple, Nara prefecture, was decorated with lacquer and oil painting on wood, gilt bronze plaques, and with beetlewing work using the iridescent wings of the ''Chrysochroa fulgidissima'' beetle.

Tamamushi-iro

Since this insect has iridescent wings that glow lengthwise with different colors depending upon the light angle, one cannot be sure exactly which color it is. Therefore, it gave rise to the expression ''tamamushi-iro'' (tamamushi color), in reference to a convoluted statement that can be interpreted in more ways than one. The term ''tamamushi-iro'' is used in the context of Japanese officialdom, when politicians or bureaucrats use language that is ambiguous.Japanese business language By Mitsubishi Corporation
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Notes

References

* * * Beetles of Asia Insects of Japan Buprestidae Woodboring beetles Beetles described in 1817 Taxa named by Carl Johan Schönherr {{Buprestidae-stub

Characteristics

Tamamushi-iro

See also

Notes

References