Buprestidae
Guides
Agrilus restrictus
Agrilus restrictus is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species was described by Waterhouse in 1889 and occurs in Central America and North America. Field observations indicate it is associated with oak woodlands, specifically collected by beating Emory oak (Quercus emoryi). The species appears to be uncommon and has been noted as a desirable target for collectors in the southwestern United States.
Agrilus rubrovittatus
Agrilus rubrovittatus is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Waterhouse in 1889. The species has been documented in Central America and North America, with specific collection records from southwestern United States. Field observations indicate adults are associated with grasses and bunch grasses in arid and semi-arid habitats. The species exhibits typical Agrilus morphology with a somewhat flattened, elongated body form characteristic of the genus.
Agrilus sapindi
native soapberry borer, Golden Soapberry Borer
Agrilus sapindi is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Knull in 1938. It is commonly known as the native soapberry borer or Golden Soapberry Borer. The species is found in North America and is associated with soapberry (Sapindus drummondii) as its host plant.
Agrilus sayi
Bayberry Agrilus
Agrilus sayi, commonly known as the bayberry agrilus, is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is native to North America, with documented occurrence in Canada (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia) and the United States. As a member of the enormous genus Agrilus, which contains nearly 4,000 described species, A. sayi represents one of many twig and branch-boring buprestids that develop in recently dead wood.
Agrilus scitulus
Native Soapberry Borer, Beautiful Soapberry Borer
Agrilus scitulus is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, commonly known as the native soapberry borer or beautiful soapberry borer. It is native to North America and is associated with soapberry plants (Sapindus). Like other members of the genus Agrilus, it develops as a larva in woody tissue, though specific details of its biology remain limited.
Agrilus snowi
Agrilus snowi is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in North America. The species was described by Fall in 1905. Like other members of the genus Agrilus, it is presumed to develop as a larva in woody plant tissue, though specific host associations remain undocumented.
Agrilus subcinctus
Native Ash Borer
Agrilus subcinctus, commonly known as the native ash borer, is a North American jewel beetle (Buprestidae) that develops in ash (Fraxinus) trees. Unlike the invasive emerald ash borer (A. planipennis), this species is restricted to dead ash twigs for larval development. Adults are active from late May through mid-August, with peak flight in June. The species serves as host for multiple hymenopteran parasitoids and has been studied for its distinct mating behavior, which involves visual aerial orientation followed by contact chemical signal evaluation.
Agrilus subrobustus
Agrilus subrobustus is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Saunders in 1873. It is one of thousands of species in the hyperdiverse genus Agrilus, which may represent the largest genus in the animal kingdom. The species has been recorded from North America and Southern Asia, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Agrilus subtropicus
Agrilus subtropicus is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Schaeffer in 1905. The species occurs in Central America and North America. Like other members of the hyperdiverse genus Agrilus, it is presumed to develop as a larva in woody plant tissue, though specific host associations and biological details remain undocumented.
Agrilus sulcicollis
European oak borer
Agrilus sulcicollis, commonly known as the European oak borer, is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. Native to Europe and Northern Asia, it has been introduced to North America, with confirmed records in southern Ontario, Canada, and the northeastern United States. The species is associated with oak trees and is one of nine non-native Agrilus species established in North America.
Agrilus taeniatus
Agrilus taeniatus is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Chevrolat in 1835. The species occurs across multiple biogeographic regions including North America, Central America, and has records from the Palearctic, Indomalaya, Afrotropic, Australasia, and Oceania realms. Like other members of the hyperdiverse genus Agrilus, it is presumed to develop as a larva in woody plant tissue, though specific host associations and detailed biology remain undocumented.
Agrilus torquatus
Agrilus torquatus is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species was described by LeConte in 1860 and is known to occur in North America. Like other members of the hyperdiverse genus Agrilus, it is presumed to develop as a larva in wood, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Agrilus toxotes
Agrilus toxotes is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Obenberger in 1935. The species was historically known only from Mexico until specimens were collected in south Texas in the 1980s, representing a northward range extension into the United States. It belongs to the large genus Agrilus, which contains hundreds of species worldwide. The species name refers to the archer fish genus Toxotes, though the specific reason for this epithet choice is not documented in available sources.
Agrilus transimpressus
Agrilus transimpressus is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Fall in 1925. It belongs to the hyperdiverse genus Agrilus, which contains nearly 4,000 described species and may be the largest genus in the animal kingdom. The species is recorded from North America. Like most Agrilus species, it is presumed to be a twig or branch borer in woody plants, though specific biological details remain undocumented.
Agrilus ventralis
Agrilus ventralis is a species of jewel beetle (family Buprestidae) described by Horn in 1891. It belongs to the extraordinarily diverse genus Agrilus, which contains nearly 4,000 described species and is considered one of the largest genera in the animal kingdom. The species has been recorded across multiple biogeographic regions including the Nearctic, Palearctic, and other realms. Specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented in available sources.
Agrilus vittaticollis
Hawthorn Root Borer
Agrilus vittaticollis, commonly known as the hawthorn root borer, is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is one of several larger, more conspicuous Agrilus species characterized by a red pronotum and black elytra. The species develops in living rather than dead host plants, specifically in serviceberry (Amelanchier). It is found in North America but is not commonly encountered compared to many other Agrilus species.
Agrilus walsinghami
Agrilus walsinghami is a sexually dimorphic jewel beetle (family Buprestidae) found across western North America. It is among the most visually striking species in its genus, with males exhibiting bronzy-brown and brassy coloration while females are uniformly blue to greenish-blue. Adults are active during late summer and early fall, an unusual seasonality for wood-boring beetles in this region. The species is strongly associated with gray rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa), which is presumed to serve as its larval host despite the absence of confirmed rearing records.
Anambodera
Anambodera is a genus of jewel beetles (Buprestidae) established by Barr in 1974. The genus comprises seven described species distributed in western North America. Unlike the closely related and flower-visiting genus Acmaeodera, Anambodera species exhibit more cryptic habits, often found alighting on rock surfaces or bare soil rather than on flowers. The genus remains incompletely known and is currently undergoing revision.
Anambodera
An undescribed species of jewel beetle in the genus Anambodera, collected from Nothing, Arizona. The specimen resembles A. gemina but differs in multiple characters including coarse elytral punctation and heavily sculptured, bronzed pronotal surface. The genus Anambodera is restricted to western North America and is poorly represented in collections due to cryptic habits; most species do not visit flowers but instead alight on rock surfaces or bare soil. The genus is currently undergoing revision by Dennis Haines and George Walters.
Anambodera gemina
Anambodera gemina is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in Central America and North America. The species belongs to a genus restricted to western North America whose members are poorly represented in collections due to cryptic habits—they typically alight on rock surfaces or bare soil rather than visiting flowers, unlike the related genus Acmaeodera.
Anambodera lucksani
A small jewel beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Walters in 1982. The genus Anambodera is restricted to western North America and is closely related to the diverse genus Acmaeodera. Species in this genus are poorly represented in collections due to their cryptic habits.
Anambodera nebulosa
Anambodera nebulosa is a small metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species is found in western North America and is characterized by its cryptic habits, typically occurring on rock surfaces or bare soil rather than flowers. It was described by Horn in 1894 and is one of several species in the genus Anambodera, which is restricted to western North America and remains incompletely known taxonomically.
Anambodera palmarum
Anambodera palmarum is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It occurs in western North America, including the southwestern United States and adjacent regions of Mexico. The genus Anambodera is restricted to western North America and is characterized by cryptic habits, with adults typically found on rock surfaces or bare soil rather than flowers.
Anambodera santarosae
Anambodera santarosae is a species of jewel beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Knull in 1960. It belongs to a small genus of western North American buprestids that are morphologically similar to Acmaeodera but distinguished by several structural characters including non-reflexed epistoma, rounded pronotal angles, and visible suture between abdominal sterna. Species in this genus are generally poorly represented in collections due to their cryptic habits.
Anthaxia
Anthaxia is a large genus of jewel beetles (family Buprestidae, tribe Anthaxiini) containing numerous species distributed across the Palearctic, Nearctic, Afrotropical, and Indomalayan regions. The genus is divided into seven subgenera: Anthaxia (Anthaxia), Haplanthaxia, Melanthaxia, Cratomerus, Merocratus, Thailandia, and Richteraxia. Species are primarily associated with woody host plants, with larvae developing in dead branches or living stems of various trees and shrubs. Adults are frequently observed visiting flowers, where they feed on pollen and nectar.
Anthaxia caseyi
Anthaxia caseyi is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, native to North America. The species was described by Obenberger in 1914 and includes four recognized subspecies. Field observations indicate adults are flower visitors, particularly associated with Purshia standsburyana (Stansbury's cliffrose) and other flowering plants in western North American habitats.
Anthaxia caseyi caseyi
Anthaxia caseyi caseyi is a subspecies of jewel beetle in the family Buprestidae. Based on field observations, adults have been collected from flowers of Purshia stansburyana (Stansbury's cliffrose) in the southwestern United States. The nominate subspecies occurs in the western Nearctic region. Taxonomic study of populations in Utah and Arizona suggests potential subspecific variation that may not align with currently recognized subspecies boundaries.
Anthaxia caseyi pseudotsugae
Anthaxia caseyi pseudotsugae is a subspecies of jewel beetle (family Buprestidae) described by Chamberlin in 1928. It is distinguished from the nominate subspecies A. c. caseyi by its dark coloration rather than bright green. The subspecies has been collected in montane coniferous forests of the southwestern United States, particularly in New Mexico and Arizona, where adults are found on flowers of Rosa woodsii and other blooming plants in alpine habitats.
Anthaxia dichroa
Anthaxia dichroa is a metallic wood-boring beetle (family Buprestidae) described by Bílý in 1991. It is found in North America and has been documented in ethanol-only bait traps in Illinois, where it occurs alongside related Anthaxia species. The genus Anthaxia includes species associated with Cercocarpus (mountain mahogany) and other woody hosts, though specific host relationships for A. dichroa remain unconfirmed.
Anthaxia expansa
Anthaxia expansa is a species of jewel beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1860. It belongs to the genus Anthaxia, a diverse group of metallic wood-boring beetles distributed across multiple biogeographic realms. The species has been recorded from North America and is present in the Nearctic region. Like other members of its family, A. expansa likely exhibits the characteristic metallic coloration and compact body form typical of buprestid beetles.
Anthaxia inornata
Dandelion Anthaxia Beetle
Anthaxia inornata is a small metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, measuring 4–8 mm in length. It was described by Randall in 1838 and is found in North America. The species belongs to the genus Anthaxia, a diverse group of jewel beetles commonly associated with flowers and woody plants.
Anthaxia nanula
Anthaxia nanula is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Casey in 1884. It belongs to the subgenus Melanthaxia within the genus Anthaxia. The species is found in North America, though specific details regarding its biology, host associations, and ecology remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Anthaxia quercicola
Anthaxia quercicola is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Wellso in 1974. It is found in North America. As a member of the genus Anthaxia, it belongs to a group of jewel beetles known for their metallic coloration and association with woody plants. The specific epithet "quercicola" suggests an association with oak (Quercus), though this relationship has not been explicitly confirmed in the available literature.
Anthaxia retifer
Anthaxia retifer is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by LeConte in 1860. It is found in North America, with records from British Columbia and Manitoba in Canada. Like other members of the genus Anthaxia, it is a small, often brightly colored jewel beetle. Specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Anthaxia viridicornis
Anthaxia viridicornis is a small metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, placed in the subgenus Haplanthaxia. It is native to North America and has been reared from dead willow (Salix caroliniana). The species exhibits variation that has been discussed in taxonomic literature, particularly in relation to its distinction from the similar A. viridifrons.
Anthaxia viridifrons
Anthaxia viridifrons is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Gory in 1841. It belongs to the subgenus Haplanthaxia within the genus Anthaxia. The species is found in North America, with records from the United States including Vermont. As with other members of the genus, adults are typically associated with woody vegetation, though specific host relationships for this species remain incompletely documented.
Anthaxiini
Anthaxiini is a tribe of jewel beetles (family Buprestidae) characterized by small to medium-sized, often metallic species. The tribe includes the genus Anthaxia, one of the largest genera in Buprestidae, with numerous species distributed across multiple biogeographic regions. Members of this tribe exhibit considerable morphological diversity and have been subject to extensive taxonomic revision due to the complexity of species-level identification.
Aphanisticus
metallic wood-boring beetles
Aphanisticus is a large genus of metallic wood-boring beetles in the family Buprestidae, comprising more than 360 described species distributed across every continent except Antarctica. The genus exhibits remarkable cosmopolitan distribution, with species inhabiting diverse environments from tropical to temperate regions. Adults are typically small and often exhibit metallic coloration characteristic of the family.
Aphanisticus cochinchinae
Aphanisticus cochinchinae is a small metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, originally described from the Cochinchina region of Southeast Asia. The species has been documented with expanded distribution into the New World, including Hawaii. It belongs to a genus of minute buprestids typically associated with grasses and sedges rather than woody hosts. Two subspecies are recognized: A. c. cochinchinae and A. c. seminulum.
Aphanisticus cochinchinae seminulum
Aphanisticus cochinchinae seminulum is a subspecies of jewel beetle in the family Buprestidae. The genus Aphanisticus comprises small, cylindrical buprestids often associated with monocot plants. This subspecies was described by Obenberger in 1929 and has been recorded from southern Asia and Hawaii. Members of this genus are typically collected by sweeping vegetation or beating host plants rather than at light traps.
Aphanisticus congener
Aphanisticus congener is a species of jewel beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Saunders in 1875. It belongs to a genus of minute buprestids characterized by their small size and reduced elytral sculpturing. The species epithet 'congener' suggests its close relationship to other members of the genus. Like other Aphanisticus species, it is likely associated with monocotyledonous plants, particularly grasses and sedges, though specific host records for this species are limited.
Barilepton
Barilepton undescribed represents a species of jewel beetle (family Buprestidae) that has not yet received formal scientific description. The genus Barilepton belongs to the diverse metallic wood-boring beetle family, whose members are characterized by their often brilliant metallic coloration and wood-associated life histories. As an undescribed species, it awaits taxonomic formalization pending further study.
Barrellus
Barrellus is a monotypic genus of jewel beetles (family Buprestidae) containing the single species Barrellus femoratus. The genus was established in 1996 by Nelson & Bellamy. Very little published information exists on this genus beyond its taxonomic description and placement within the Buprestidae.
Barrellus femoratus
Barrellus femoratus is a species of jewel beetle in the family Buprestidae, subfamily Chrysochroinae, and tribe Dicercini. Originally described by Knull in 1941, it is one of two species in the genus Barrellus, which was established by Nelson & Bellamy in 1996. The species is known from the Nearctic region of North America. Very little specific information about its biology or ecology has been published.
Beerellus
Beerellus is a monotypic genus of jewel beetles (family Buprestidae) containing a single described species, Beerellus taxodii. The genus was established by Nelson in 1982 and is classified within the subfamily Polycestinae. Very little is known about this genus beyond its taxonomic placement and the description of its sole species.
Belionota prasina
Belionota prasina is a jewel beetle species in the family Buprestidae, first described by Thunberg in 1789. The species belongs to the genus Belionota, which comprises metallic wood-boring beetles distributed across various regions. Records indicate presence in the conterminous 48 United States. The species exhibits the characteristic metallic coloration typical of buprestid beetles.
Boloria andersoni
Agrilus andersoni is a jewel beetle species in the family Buprestidae, described by Henry Hespenheide in 2008 from specimens collected in Guerrero and Puebla, Mexico. It is one of two new species associated with mistletoe plants in the genus Phoradendron, representing an unusual host relationship within the enormous genus Agrilus. The species is closely related to A. turnbowi from Texas and A. howdenorum from Oaxaca, sharing distinctive purplish-red coloration and complex golden setal patterns on the elytra.
Brachyina
Brachyina is a subtribe within the tribe Trachyini (family Buprestidae), established by Cobos in 1979. The subtribe includes small to minute metallic wood-boring beetles, with Taphrocerus being the primary genus in North America. Members are characterized by their compact body form and association with herbaceous or woody vegetation. The group is taxonomically stable but relatively understudied compared to other buprestid lineages.
Brachys
Leaf-mining jewel beetles
Brachys is a genus of small metallic wood-boring beetles in the family Buprestidae, tribe Trachyini. The genus contains at least 140 described species distributed primarily in North America, with some species in Central and South America. Adults are characterized by their flattened, compact, wedge-shaped morphology—distinctly different from the more typical elongate, cylindrical form of most jewel beetles. This body plan reflects their unique larval habit of mining within leaves of host plants rather than boring through wood. The genus is strongly associated with oaks (Quercus) and other hardwoods, though some species utilize diverse host plant families.
BuprestidaeAgrilinaeTrachyinileaf-mineroak-associatejewel-beetlemetallic-wood-boring-beetlehardwood-forestphenologyNorth-AmericaSouth-AmericaCerradoQuercusBrachys-ovatusBrachys-aerosusBrachys-aeruginosusBrachys-querciBrachys-cephalicusBrachys-floccosusBrachys-barberiBrachys-rileyiBrachys-apacheiBrachys-cleidecostaeBrachys-tessellatusBrachys aerosus
Northern Red Oak Jewel Beetle
Brachys aerosus is a small metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, tribe Trachyini. Adults measure 3–5 mm in length and exhibit highly variable coloration, with the basal region of the elytra typically showing purple, blue, or green luster and the apical area covered in gold to bronze pubescence. The species is commonly associated with hardwood trees, particularly oaks and elms, though its broad host range and morphological variability suggest it may represent a cryptic species complex. Larvae are leaf miners rather than wood borers, a distinctive trait of the tribe Trachyini.