Red sagra (Sagra femorata)

Red sagra (Sagra femorata) is animal species in Chrysomelidae, beetles with a shiny red color and wing covers reflecting green-blue, large legs, arboreal, live in the shade on medium-sized palms and shrubs in forests and agricultural land.

S. femorata reaches a length of 20 mm and exhibits striking sexual dimorphism. The males are significantly larger, with hind legs that are exceptionally long and robust, resembling those of a frog. This remarkable morphology helps males dominate their rivals during the mating season. The base coloration varies considerably, though it is typically a metallic blue-green.





This species has a metallic red color, smooth and hairless surface. The head is cylindrical, red and black. The antenna is very thick, long, jointed and metallic black. The nape is wide and square. The wings are folded and covered by two large bowls, colored red with a blue-green reflection.

The forelegs and middle feet consist of two long, curved joints and three short joints that form the sole ending at a long finger. The hind legs were very long, hefty and strong.

This animal has a striking sexual dimorphism. Males are larger in size with very long and strong hind legs that are used for domination during breeding. This beetle spends a lot of time in the shade.

This insect is associated with climbing plants and legumes, which serve as both a food source and a breeding habitat. The adults are herbivorous, feeding primarily on the leaves and young shoots of host plants—specifically legumes. The larvae develop in association with these plants, consuming plant tissue as they grow.

The life cycle follows a complete metamorphosis, consisting of egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages. Females lay their eggs on suitable host plants; the larvae then progress through several developmental stages before pupating and emerging as adults.

Ecologically, these insects contribute to plant-insect interactions as herbivores, while also serving as prey for birds, reptiles, spiders, and predatory insects. Their presence reflects the diversity of tropical ecosystems and the specialized relationships between insects and their host plants. This species is considered one of the most visually striking leaf beetles in Asia, noted for its metallic beauty and the remarkable morphology of its hind legs.

TAXON

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Subclass: Pterygota
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Infraorder: Cucujiformia
Superfamily: Chrysomeloidea
Family: Chrysomelidae
Subfamily: Sagrinae
Genus: Sagra Fabricius (1792)
Species: Sagra femorata Drury (1773)

SYNONYMS

Alurnus dentipes Fabricius (1787)
Sagra abdominalis Jacoby (1895)
Sagra aenea Olivier (1807)
Sagra borneoensis Jacoby (1898)
Sagra brevipes Jacoby (1889)
Sagra chrysochlora Lacordaire (1845)
Sagra druryi Lacordaire (1845)
Sagra empyrea Lacordaire (1845)
Sagra fabricii Lacordaire (1845)
Sagra femorata andamanensis Jolivet (1951)
Sagra femorata tonkinensis Kuntzen (1914)
Sagra festiva Lacordaire (1845)
Sagra formosa Lacordaire (1845)
Sagra heterodera Lacordaire (1845)
Sagra ignita Lacordaire (1845)
Sagra longicollis Lacordaire (1845)
Sagra longipes Baly (1878)
Sagra mutabilis Baly (1864)
Sagra nigrita Olivier (1807)
Sagra papuana Jacoby (1889)
Sagra pfeifferi Baly (1860)
Sagra puncticollis Jacoby (1884)
Sagra purpurea Lichtenstein (1796)
Sagra purpurea var. atricolor Pic (1953)
Sagra purpurea var. jeanvoinei Pic (1953 )
Sagra quadraticollis Lacordaire (1845)
Sagra queenslandica Mjöberg (1917)
Sagra speciosa Lacordaire (1845)
Sagra speciosa var. olivieri Weise (1913)
Sagra splendida Weber (1801)
Sagra superba Lacordaire (1845)
Sagra tridentata Weber (1801)
Sagra weberi Lacordaire (1845)
Tenebrio femoratus Drury (1773)
Tenebrio viridis Sulzer (1776)

VERNACULAR NAME

Chinese (simplified): 紫茎甲 - 紫胫甲
Chinese (traditional): 紫莖甲 - 琉璃粗腿金花蟲 - 琉璃粗腿金花蟲
English: Red sagra, Frog-legged leaf beetle
French: Chrysomèle grenouille
Guangdong: 紫莖甲 - 琉璃粗腿金花蟲
Hong Kong: 紫莖甲 - 琉璃粗腿金花蟲
Indonesia: Kumbang sagra, Kumbang daun berkaki katak, Kumbang kaki katak
Japanese: フェモラータオオモモブトハムシ - フェモラータモモブトハムシ - オオモモブトハムシ - コガネハムシ
Java: Wangwung thelis, Ampal thelis
Korean: 다색캥거루잎벌레 - 사그라알통다리잎벌레
Macao: 紫莖甲 - 琉璃粗腿金花蟲
Polish: Stonka żabinoga
Taiwan: 琉璃粗腿金花蟲
Thai: ด้วงเต่าขาโต

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