Metallic-wood-boring-beetle
Guides
Acmaeodera sphaeralceae
Acmaeodera sphaeralceae is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Barr in 1972. Like other members of this large North American genus, it is associated with flowers and woody vegetation. The specific epithet suggests a relationship with plants in the genus Sphaeralcea (globemallows, family Malvaceae), which serve as larval hosts for related species in the genus.
Acmaeodera starrae
Acmaeodera starrae is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Knull in 1966. The species is found in North America, with documented occurrences in Texas and New Mexico. Based on field observations, adults are known to visit flowers of Echinocereus enneacanthus carnosus (strawberry cactus) and other low-growing desert plants. The species is considered rare and is infrequently encountered by collectors.
Acmaeodera tenebricosa
Acmaeodera tenebricosa is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It was described by Fall in 1922 and is found in North America. Like other members of the genus Acmaeodera, it is one of approximately 150 species/subspecies of this diverse jewel beetle genus in North America.
Acmaeodera tildenorum
Acmaeodera tildenorum is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Nelson & Westcott in 1995. It belongs to the large and taxonomically challenging genus Acmaeodera, which contains over 150 species in North America. The species is found in Central America and North America, though specific biological details remain poorly documented. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to exhibit typical Acmaeodera characteristics including flower-visiting behavior by adults and larval development in woody plants.
Acmaeodera tiquilia
Acmaeodera tiquilia is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Westcott & Barr in 1998. The species is found in North America. As a member of the genus Acmaeodera, it likely exhibits the characteristic metallic coloration and flower-visiting behavior common to many congeners, though specific details about this species remain poorly documented.
Acmaeodera vanduzeei
Acmaeodera vanduzeei is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It was described by Van Dyke in 1934 and is found in Central America and North America. The species belongs to the subgenus Squamodera within the genus Acmaeodera. Like other members of this genus, adults are typically associated with flowers where they feed on pollen.
Acmaeodera vernalis
Acmaeodera vernalis is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species was described by Barr in 1972 and is distributed across Central America and North America. Like other members of the genus Acmaeodera, it exhibits the characteristic metallic coloration typical of jewel beetles.
Acmaeodera vulturei
Acmaeodera vulturei is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Knull in 1938. The species belongs to the large genus Acmaeodera, which contains over 150 species in North America and is particularly diverse in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Like other members of its genus, it exhibits metallic coloration typical of jewel beetles. The specific epithet honors an individual, following a pattern seen in related species descriptions from the same era.
Acmaeodera wenzeli
Acmaeodera wenzeli is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Van Dyke in 1919. It is distributed across Central America and North America, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Acmaeoderoides humeralis
Acmaeoderoides humeralis is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, found in North America. It belongs to the genus Acmaeoderoides, which is part of the Acmaeoderoid lineage within the subfamily Polycestinae. The species was described by Cazier in 1938 and is native to the Nearctic region.
Acmaeoderoides knulli
Acmaeoderoides knulli is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Nelson in 1968. The genus Acmaeoderoides belongs to the subtribe Acmaeoderoideina within the tribe Acmaeoderini. The species is found in North America, though specific details about its biology, host associations, and distribution remain poorly documented in available literature.
Acmaeoderoides rossi
Acmaeoderoides rossi is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Cazier in 1937. The genus Acmaeoderoides belongs to the diverse Buprestidae family, whose members are characterized by their often metallic coloration and wood-boring larval habits. This species is part of the Nearctic fauna, with records from North America.
Acmaeoderoides stramineus
Acmaeoderoides stramineus is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Nelson in 1968. It belongs to the genus Acmaeoderoides, a small Nearctic genus within the subtribe Acmaeoderoïdina. The species is found in North America. Like other members of Buprestidae, it exhibits metallic coloration typical of jewel beetles.
Acmaeoderopsis guttifera
Acmaeoderopsis guttifera is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by LeConte in 1859. The species is distributed across Central America and North America, with records from the Nearctic region. As a member of the genus Acmaeoderopsis, it belongs to a group of small to medium-sized jewel beetles typically associated with woody vegetation.
Acmaeoderopsis hualpaiana
Acmaeoderopsis hualpaiana is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It was described by Knull in 1952. The genus Acmaeoderopsis belongs to the diverse jewel beetle family, characterized by their metallic coloration and wood-boring larval habits. This species occurs in the Nearctic region of North America.
Acmaeoderopsis hulli
Acmaeoderopsis hulli is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, occurring in Central America and North America. The species has been documented from mesquite-dominated habitats in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Adults are associated with Prosopis glandulosa (honey mesquite) and have been collected by beating branches and sweeping foliage. The genus Acmaeoderopsis is a small group within Buprestidae with limited published biological information.
Acmaeoderopsis jaguarina
Acmaeoderopsis jaguarina is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Knull in 1938. It belongs to the genus Acmaeoderopsis, a group of small to medium-sized jewel beetles. The species is known from the Nearctic region of North America. Like other buprestids, it likely exhibits the family's characteristic metallic coloration and association with woody vegetation, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Acmaeoderopsis junki
Acmaeoderopsis junki is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Théry in 1929. The species has been documented from mesquite and acacia habitats in the southwestern United States, particularly Arizona, and is also reported from Central America and North America more broadly. It is one of two recognized subspecies in the species complex, with A. j. junki and A. j. peninsularis described.
Acmaeoderopsis paravaripilis
Acmaeoderopsis paravaripilis is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Barr in 1972. It belongs to a genus of small to medium-sized jewel beetles characterized by their metallic coloration. The species is documented from North America, with collection records indicating presence in the southwestern United States. Like other members of Buprestidae, adults are likely associated with woody vegetation and may be collected by beating branches or sweeping flowers.
Acmaeoderopsis rockefelleri
Acmaeoderopsis rockefelleri is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It occurs in arid regions of the southwestern United States and Mexico. The species is associated with mesquite (Prosopis) and acacia (Acacia) host plants, where adults have been collected by beating vegetation.
Acmaeoderopsis westcotti
Acmaeoderopsis westcotti is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species was described by Barr in 1972 and belongs to the genus Acmaeoderopsis, a group of small to medium-sized jewel beetles. It occurs in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions, specifically in Middle America and North America.
Actenodes
Actenodes is a genus of jewel beetles (family Buprestidae) containing approximately 100 described species distributed across the Americas, Africa, and Madagascar. The genus includes both widespread species and geographically restricted endemics. Several North American species have been documented as prey of the predatory wasp Cerceris fumipennis, which has been used in biosurveillance programs. Species in this genus are primarily associated with woody vegetation, particularly leguminous trees and shrubs.
Actenodes acornis
Actenodes acornis is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in North America, with records from the United States and Canada (Ontario). The species has been documented as prey of the crabronid wasp Cerceris fumipennis, which collects adult buprestids to provision its nests. It belongs to a genus whose larvae typically develop in dead wood, particularly of leguminous trees.
Actenodes mimicus
Actenodes mimicus is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Knull in 1964. It is found in North America, with collection records from the southwestern United States including New Mexico and Texas. Like other members of the genus Actenodes, it is associated with woody vegetation and has been collected by beating mesquite and other host plants.
Agaeocera gentilis
Agaeocera gentilis is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species occurs in southwestern North America and Central America, with two recognized subspecies: A. g. gentilis and A. g. peninsularis. Field observations indicate adults are active during summer months and have been collected from Sphaeralcea (globemallow) vegetation.
Agrilaxia flavimana
Agrilaxia flavimana is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, distributed across Central America and North America. The genus Agrilaxia is one of several small genera of jewel beetles known to routinely visit flowers, though most Buprestidae are associated with woody vegetation. Observations suggest this species occurs in prairie and open habitats where its presumed floral hosts grow.
Agrilaxia hespenheidei
Agrilaxia hespenheidei is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It was described by Bílý in 1984. The species has been documented in Central America and North America, with specific collection records from Arizona in the southwestern United States. Adults have been observed on flowers of Bouvardia ternifolia (firecrackerbush).
Agrilinae
Agrilinae is a subfamily of metallic wood-boring beetles (family Buprestidae) characterized by larvae that develop in plant stems, twigs, and branches. The subfamily contains the hyperdiverse genus Agrilus, which with nearly 4,000 described species is among the largest genera in the animal kingdom. Most Agrilinae are secondary pests of broadleaf forests, developing in recently dead wood, though some species attack living trees of economic importance. Adults are typically small, often under 8 mm, and lack the vivid metallic colors common in other Buprestidae subfamilies. The subfamily has a cosmopolitan distribution with greatest diversity in tropical and warm temperate regions.
Agrilus abjectus
Agrilus abjectus is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by George Henry Horn in 1891. The species is native to North America. Like other members of the hyperdiverse genus Agrilus, it is presumed to be associated with woody plants, though specific host associations and biological details remain undocumented. The species is rarely encountered and poorly known compared to more widespread congeners.
Agrilus aeneocephalus
Agrilus aeneocephalus is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Fisher in 1928. The species occurs in North America, with documented records from the southwestern United States including Arizona. Field observations indicate adults are active during summer months and have been collected by beating flowering vegetation, particularly Mimosa dysocarpa.
Agrilus angelicus
oak twig girdler, Pacific oak twig girdler
Agrilus angelicus, known as the oak twig girdler or Pacific oak twig girdler, is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species is found in North America. It belongs to the hyperdiverse genus Agrilus, which contains nearly 4,000 described species and is perhaps the largest genus in the animal kingdom. Like other members of the genus, it is a twig and branch borer, with larvae developing in recently dead wood.
Agrilus anxius
bronze birch borer
Agrilus anxius, the bronze birch borer, is a wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae native to North America. It is a significant pest of birch trees (Betula spp.), with larvae tunneling through the cambial layer and frequently killing host trees. River birch (Betula nigra) shows the greatest resistance among native North American birches, while European and Asian birch species lack resistance entirely. The species is closely related to the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) and has been the subject of taxonomic confusion, with historical reports conflating birch-feeding and poplar-feeding populations that were later recognized as distinct species.
Agrilus arcuatus
Agrilus arcuatus is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It was described by Thomas Say in 1825. The species occurs in North America, with records from Canada and the United States. It has been documented at light traps, though it is not known to be attracted to lights in large numbers.
Agrilus arizonicus
Agrilus arizonicus is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Obenberger in 1936. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in coloration: males are bright green, while females appear more coppery. It has been documented from southeastern Arizona in the United States and likely extends into Mexico. The species is associated with oak woodlands and has been collected from Desmodium vegetation.
Agrilus asperulus
metallic wood-boring beetle
Agrilus asperulus is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Waterhouse in 1889. The species is found in Central America and North America. Like other members of the hyperdiverse genus Agrilus, it belongs to a group of primarily twig and branch borers. Specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Agrilus atricornis
Agrilus atricornis is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Fisher in 1928. It belongs to the hyperdiverse genus Agrilus, which contains nearly 4,000 described species and is considered one of the largest genera in the animal kingdom. The species is found in North America, with records from Canada (Ontario, Québec) and the United States. Like most members of its genus, it is presumed to develop as a larva in woody plant tissue, though specific host plants and detailed biology remain undocumented.
Agrilus aureus
Agrilus aureus is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It belongs to the genus Agrilus, which is among the largest genera in the animal kingdom with nearly 4,000 described species. The species is found in Central America and North America. Like most members of its genus, it is presumed to develop as larvae in woody plant material, though specific host associations for this species have not been documented.
Agrilus aurilaterus
Agrilus aurilaterus is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Waterhouse in 1889. It belongs to the hyperdiverse genus Agrilus, which contains nearly 4,000 described species and may represent the largest genus in the animal kingdom. The species is found in Central America and North America, with records from Middle America and North America. Like most Agrilus species, it is likely associated with woody plants as a larval host, though specific host relationships have not been documented.
Agrilus baboquivariae
Agrilus baboquivariae is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. Described by Fisher in 1928, this species belongs to the hyperdiverse genus Agrilus, which contains nearly 4,000 described species and is considered one of the largest genera in the animal kingdom. The species is known to occur in Central America and North America.
Agrilus bentseni
Agrilus bentseni is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It was described by Josef Knull in 1954. The species is found in North America. Like other members of the genus Agrilus, it likely develops in woody plants, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Agrilus bespencus
Agrilus bespencus is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It was described by Barr in 2008 from Texas. As a member of the hyperdiverse genus Agrilus, it belongs to one of the largest genera in the animal kingdom. The species is known only from its original taxonomic description, with minimal biological or ecological data available.
Agrilus blandus
Agrilus blandus is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in North America. The species is notable among North American Agrilus for its routine association with flowers, particularly those of Eriogonum (wild buckwheat), which also serve as its confirmed larval host. This flower-visiting behavior is exceptional in a genus where adults typically do not visit flowers.
Agrilus burkei
Agrilus burkei is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species was described by Fisher in 1917 and occurs in North America. Like other members of the hyperdiverse genus Agrilus, it is presumed to develop as a larva in woody plant tissue, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Agrilus carpini
Agrilus carpini is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Josef Knull in 1923. It belongs to the hyperdiverse genus Agrilus, which contains nearly 4,000 described species and is considered one of the largest genera in the animal kingdom. The species is known from North America, with records from Canada (Ontario, Québec) and the United States. Like other members of the genus, it likely develops as a larva in woody plant material, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Agrilus cavatus
Agrilus cavatus is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species is documented from Copper Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains of Arizona, where it has been collected by sweeping low-growing prairie acacia (Acaciella angustissima). It is known to occur in Central America, North America, and South America.
Agrilus celti
Agrilus celti is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species was described by Knull in 1920. It is found in North America. The specific epithet 'celti' suggests an association with Celtis (hackberry), a genus of trees commonly used as hosts by related Agrilus species, though direct host records for this species are not documented in the provided sources.
Agrilus cliftoni
Agrilus cliftoni is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Knull in 1941. It is found in North America. A notable observation involves consistent attraction to blacklights in mature white oak forest, with nearly all collected specimens being male.
Agrilus cochisei
Agrilus cochisei is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Knull in 1948. The species occurs in Central America and North America. Adults have been observed on Ambrosia psilostachya (western ragweed) and Sphaeralcea flowers in western Texas.
Agrilus crataegi
hawthorn agrilus
Agrilus crataegi is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species was described by Frost in 1912 and is found in North America. The common name "hawthorn agrilus" suggests an association with hawthorn (Crataegus), though specific biological details remain poorly documented. Like other members of the genus Agrilus, it is presumed to have larval development in woody plant tissue.
Agrilus cyanescens
Agrilus cyanescens is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species is native to Europe and Northern Asia (excluding China) and has been introduced to North America, where it is now considered invasive. It has been newly recorded in Connecticut and other eastern states. Two subspecies are recognized: A. c. cyanescens and A. c. johanidesi.