noun
soybean beetle; Anomala rufocuprea
A small scarab beetle that feeds on soybean and other crop leaves; considered a pest in agriculture.
ヒメコガネは大豆の葉を食い荒らす害虫だ。
The soybean beetle is a pest that devours soybean leaves.
夏になるとヒメコガネが畑にたくさん現れる。
In summer, many soybean beetles appear in the fields.
コガネムシ is a broader term for scarab beetles, while ヒメコガネ refers specifically to the soybean beetle species.
The name combines 姫 (hime, 'princess' or 'small and delicate') with 黄金 (kogane, 'gold'), referring to its small size and metallic golden-green coloration.