SEXUAL DIMORPHISM

We can speak of sexual dimorphism when we can observe some differences in the body of males and females of the same species, in addition to obvious differences in their sexual apparatus. A large part of Vertebrates and Invertebrates show marked sexual differences, and it is particularly true for many Insects: Lepidoptera, Coleoptera (Cetonidae, Euchiridae, Cerambycidae, Lampyridae, Lucanidae, etc) and many others.
Sexual dimorphism is not very evident in Buprestidae, and in many species it regards just few characteristics, strictly connected to coupling: the last abdominal segment, widht of tarsal segments, the shape of the first and second couple of legs, and few others.
 

Anthaxia manca L. - male 
Last abdominal sternite  (by L. Schaefer, 1936)
Anthaxia manca L. - female 
Last abdominal sternite  (by L. Schaefer, 1936)
Anthaxia hypomelaena Ill. - male 
Hind leg.  (by L. Schaefer, 1936)
Anthaxia hypomelaena Ill. - female 
Hind leg.  (by L. Schaefer, 1936)

 
Buprestis sanguinea FABRICIUS
male
Buprestis sanguinea FABRICIUS
female

Just some species of few genera show a different colouration beetwen males and females. The most known is the genus Anthaxia. Many males of these Buprestidae, especially among Palaearctic species, differ very much in colour from their females. Here, we can see some examples:
 

Madecacesta gaudroni DESCARPENTRIES
male - Madagascar
Madecacesta gaudroni DESCARPENTRIES
female - Madagascar