Agrilus quadriguttatus

Gory, 1841

Four-spotted Agrilus

Species Guides

Agrilus quadriguttatus niveiventris

Agrilus quadriguttatus is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the Buprestidae. The is native to North America and is among the smaller buprestid beetles utilized as prey by the hunting Cerceris fumipennis. Subspecific variation exists, with three recognized including the nominate form.

Agrilus quadriguttatus ssp. niveiventris by Jesse Rorabaugh. Used under a CC0 license.

Agrilus quadriguttatus by Ken Kneidel. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Agrilus quadriguttatus: /ˈæɡrɪləs ˌkwɒdraɪˈɡʌtətəs/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Distinguished from similar Agrilus by subtle morphological characters not detailed in available sources. The specific epithet 'quadriguttatus' (four-spotted) suggests a diagnostic four-spotted pattern, though this requires verification. Among the smaller Agrilus species in North America.

Images

Appearance

Small metallic wood-boring beetle. Typical of the Agrilus with an elongate, somewhat flattened body form and metallic coloration. Specific color pattern details are not documented in available sources.

Habitat

Associated with woody vegetation. Documented from cottonwood (Populus deltoides) and black willow (Salix nigra) in Oklahoma. Likely associated with riparian or floodplain forests given plant preferences.

Distribution

Native to North America. Documented from Missouri and Oklahoma in the central United States. GBIF records indicate presence across multiple biogeographic realms, though these may represent data quality issues or introduced .

Seasonality

activity observed from late May through early July in Missouri, with peak abundance in June. Activity declines in late June to early July, coinciding with general buprestid seasonal patterns in the region.

Host Associations

Populus deltoides - larval Cottonwood; collected from lower branches of declining trees
Salix nigra - larval Black willow

Behavior

are active during daylight hours. Subject to by Cerceris fumipennis, which captures adults and provisions underground nests. Multiple individuals may be captured by a single due to small size.

Ecological Role

Larval development in woody plants contributes to nutrient cycling in dead and dying wood. Serves as prey for , notably Cerceris fumipennis .

Human Relevance

Utilized as a biosurveillance through collection from Cerceris fumipennis nests. This method allows detection of buprestid diversity including this without direct searching of plants.

Similar Taxa

Agrilus obsoletoguttatusSimilar small size and ; both found in same Cerceris fumipennis nests and collected from same types. A. obsoletoguttatus described as 'among the smallest' while A. quadriguttatus is 'rather small'.
Agrilus pseudofallaxFound in association in Cerceris fumipennis nests; similar size class

More Details

Subspecies

Three recognized: Agrilus quadriguttatus quadriguttatus Gory, 1841 (nominate form); Agrilus quadriguttatus fulminans Fisher, 1928; and Agrilus quadriguttatus niveiventris Horn, 1891. Geographic distributions and diagnostic characters of subspecies are not documented in available sources.

Predation by Cerceris fumipennis

Nests provisioned with A. quadriguttatus typically contain multiple individuals (up to seven documented) due to small prey size, in contrast to single large beetles of like Buprestis. may use -produced volatiles to locate trees, then return repeatedly to the same tree until beetle supply is exhausted.