Metallic-wood-boring-beetle
Guides
Brachys querci
Brachys querci is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Knull in 1952. The species is found in North America, with documented occurrences in the southwestern United States including Arizona and New Mexico. It is associated with oak species (Quercus), particularly gray oak (Quercus grisea), and has been collected by beating or sweeping foliage of trees with newly flushed leaves. The species is part of a genus that is taxonomically challenging and has been subject to recent revisionary work.
Buprestis adjecta
Buprestis adjecta is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is native to North America and has been recorded from western Canada, specifically Alberta and British Columbia. As a member of the genus Buprestis, it shares the characteristic brilliant metallic coloration typical of jewel beetles. The species was originally described as Ancylochira adjecta by LeConte in 1854.
Buprestis confluenta
Yellow-spotted Jewel Beetle
Buprestis confluenta is a striking metallic wood-boring beetle distinguished by its emerald green to coppery-brown coloration with dense, more or less confluent yellow flecks across the elytra. The species is primarily associated with dead cottonwood (Populus deltoides) and quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) in central and western North America. Despite the abundance of suitable host trees in some regions, it remains uncommonly encountered and is considered elusive by collectors. Adults are typically found on large, dead, barkless cottonwood trunks.
Buprestis connexa
Buprestis connexa is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, native to North America. The species was described by Horn in 1875. Like other members of the genus Buprestis, it exhibits the characteristic metallic coloration typical of jewel beetles. The species occurs within the Nearctic realm and has been documented through limited observation records.
Buprestis decora
Buprestis decora is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species was described by Fabricius in 1775 and is recognized as a valid taxon. It is distributed across the Caribbean Sea region and North America, with records spanning Nearctic, Neotropical, and Palearctic biogeographic realms. As a member of the genus Buprestis, it belongs to one of the most visually striking genera of jewel beetles, though specific details about its biology and appearance remain poorly documented in available sources.
Buprestis maculativentris
ventrally spotted buprestid, spotted-belly buprestid beetle
Buprestis maculativentris is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is native to North America, with documented occurrences in Canada (Alberta, British Columbia) and the United States. The species is characterized by ventral spotting on the abdomen, as indicated by its specific epithet. Like other members of the genus Buprestis, it exhibits the brilliant metallic coloration typical of jewel beetles.
Buprestis maculipennis
Buprestis maculipennis is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Gory in 1841. The species is native to North America, with records from Canada (Manitoba, Nova Scotia) and the United States. It is one of several species in the genus Buprestis known for brilliant metallic coloration. The species includes three recognized subspecies: B. m. deficiens, B. m. fusiformis, and B. m. maculipennis.
Buprestis parmaculativentris
Buprestis parmaculativentris is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Knull in 1958. It is native to North America and belongs to the Nearctic realm. As a member of the genus Buprestis, it shares the characteristic brilliant metallic coloration typical of jewel beetles. Very limited information is available regarding its biology, habitat preferences, and distribution specifics.
Buprestis rufipes
red-legged buprestis, red-legged buprestis beetle, redbellied buprestis
Buprestis rufipes is a striking metallic wood-boring beetle native to the eastern and southern United States. Adults measure 18–25 mm and display brilliant metallic green coloration with distinctive golden-yellow bands across the elytra, with reddish legs and underparts that give the species its name. The beetle has been reared from dead or dying hardwood trunks, particularly maple, beech, oak, elm, and blackgum. Despite its visual prominence, the species remains poorly studied, with no recorded larval host plants and limited ecological data.
Buprestis striata
Striated Jewel Beetle
Buprestis striata is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, commonly known as the Striated Jewel Beetle. It is found in the Caribbean and North America. The species belongs to the subgenus Cypriacis, recognizable by its strongly ribbed elytra with alternate intervals depressed and heavily punctate. It has been documented from Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana) in Tennessee, where it occurs on bluff tops alongside other rare buprestid species.
Buprestis subornata
Buprestis subornata is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, native to North America. The species was described by LeConte in 1860 and belongs to the subgenus Buprestis s. str. It has been recorded from western North America including British Columbia, with specimens documented from locations such as Kelowna. The species has been involved in taxonomic confusion, with specimens historically misidentified as the Palearctic species Buprestis haemorrhoidalis. Two subspecies are recognized: B. subornata subornata and B. subornata punctiventris Casey.
Chalcophora georgiana
Southern Sculptured Pine Borer
Chalcophora georgiana, the southern sculptured pine borer, is a large metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is one of five North American species in the genus Chalcophora, all commonly known as "sculptured pine borers" due to their heavily sculptured exoskeletons and strict association with pine trees. This species occurs in the southeastern United States, with Florida representing a core part of its range.
Chalcophora liberta
northeastern sculptured pine borer, smaller flat-headed pine borer
Chalcophora liberta is one of five North American species in the genus Chalcophora, commonly known as sculptured pine borers. It is among the largest jewel beetles in eastern North America, characterized by its metallic coloration and heavily sculptured exosurface. The species is strictly associated with pine trees (Pinus spp.) and is one of four eastern species in the genus, distinguished from congeners by specific morphological features including coloration and male genitalia structure.
Chrysobothris acutipennis
Chrysobothris acutipennis is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It has been documented across Central America, North America, and South America, with confirmed records from Mexico to South America. The species has been taxonomically confused with similar Chrysobothris species, particularly C. fallax from northwestern Peru, from which it can be distinguished by the form of the tooth on the profemora and male genitalia. A 2022 revision clarified its distribution and distinguished it from C. merkelii.
Chrysobothris analis
Chrysobothris analis is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in Central America and North America. The species was described by LeConte in 1860. Based on field observations, adults have been collected from Senegalia greggii (catclaw acacia) in Texas, suggesting this plant may serve as a larval host.
Chrysobothris bacchari
coyote bush buprestid
Chrysobothris bacchari is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, commonly known as the coyote bush buprestid. The species is native to North America and was first described by Van Dyke in 1923. Its common name suggests an association with coyote bush (Baccharis spp.), though specific host relationships require further documentation. The larval stage has been formally described from specimens in the United States and Mexico.
Chrysobothris basalis
A metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, distributed across Central and North America. Like other members of the genus Chrysobothris, it likely develops in dead or dying wood, though specific biological details remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Chrysobothris beameri
Chrysobothris beameri is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It was described by Knull in 1954 and is known from North America. Like other members of the genus Chrysobothris, it is a jewel beetle with a metallic appearance.
Chrysobothris beyeri
Chrysobothris beyeri is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is distributed across Central America and North America. The species was described by Schaeffer in 1904. Like other members of the genus Chrysobothris, it is presumed to be associated with woody plants, though specific host relationships for this species remain poorly documented.
Chrysobothris californica
Chrysobothris californica is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species was described by LeConte in 1860 and occurs in North America. Like other members of the genus Chrysobothris, it is associated with woody plants, though specific host records for this species are not well documented in the available literature.
Chrysobothris chlorocephala
metallic wood-boring beetle
Chrysobothris chlorocephala is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Gory in 1841. It is found in North America, with confirmed records from Vermont and other parts of the United States. Like other members of the genus Chrysobothris, it is a wood-boring beetle whose larvae develop in woody plants.
Chrysobothris crandalli
Chrysobothris crandalli is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. Described by Knull in 1943, this species is known from North America. Like other members of the genus Chrysobothris, it is a jewel beetle characterized by metallic coloration and wood-boring larval habits. The species is part of a large and taxonomically challenging genus containing numerous closely related species that are often difficult to distinguish.
Chrysobothris cribraria
Sifting Metallic Wood-borer
Chrysobothris cribraria is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Mannerheim in 1837. It is found in North America, with records from Canada (Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario) and the United States. The species has been collected from dead Pinus echinata (shortleaf pine) saplings in Oklahoma and from fallen dead branches of Pinus clausa (sand pine) in Florida, indicating an association with dead or dying coniferous wood.
Chrysobothris cupressicona
flatheaded cypress cone borer
Chrysobothris cupressicona is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Barr and Westcott in 1976. The species is commonly known as the flatheaded cypress cone borer, indicating an association with cypress. Like other members of the genus Chrysobothris, it is a member of the jewel beetle group characterized by metallic coloration and wood-boring larval habits.
Chrysobothris debilis
Chrysobothris debilis is a species of jewel beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1860. The species belongs to the large genus Chrysobothris, which contains numerous North American buprestid species. Like other members of this genus, it likely exhibits the characteristic metallic coloration and wood-boring larval habits typical of the family.
Chrysobothris dolata
Chrysobothris dolata is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by George Henry Horn in 1886. It belongs to the large genus Chrysobothris, which contains over 300 species in North America. The species is found in North America, though specific details about its biology, host associations, and distribution within the continent remain poorly documented compared to better-studied congeners.
Chrysobothris edwardsii
Ocotillo borer
Chrysobothris edwardsii is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species is commonly known as the Ocotillo borer, suggesting an association with Fouquieria species. It occurs in Central America and North America, with distribution records from both regions. As a member of the genus Chrysobothris, it likely exhibits the typical jewel beetle biology of larval development in woody plants, though specific details for this species remain limited in available sources.
Chrysobothris ephedrae
A metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Knull in 1942. Two subspecies are recognized: C. e. ephedrae and C. e. vogti (Knull, 1964). The species is known from North America. Specific host associations and detailed biology remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Chrysobothris eriogoni
Chrysobothris eriogoni is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Westcott in 2005 from specimens collected in Oregon and Washington. As a member of the speciose genus Chrysobothris, it belongs to a group of jewel beetles known for their metallic coloration and association with woody plants. The species epithet 'eriogoni' suggests a potential association with Eriogonum (wild buckwheat), though this host relationship has not been explicitly documented in the available literature.
Chrysobothris fiskei
Chrysobothris fiskei is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It was described by Fisher in 1942. The species is known to occur in Central America and North America, though specific details regarding its biology, host associations, and morphology remain poorly documented in the available literature. Like other members of the genus Chrysobothris, it likely develops as a larva in woody plant tissue.
Chrysobothris harrisi
Chrysobothris harrisi is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species was described by Hentz in 1827 and is sometimes misspelled as "harrisii". It belongs to the large genus Chrysobothris, which contains numerous species of jewel beetles in North America. Like other members of its genus, this species exhibits metallic coloration typical of buprestid beetles.
Chrysobothris hubbardi
Chrysobothris hubbardi is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle (family Buprestidae) described by Fisher in 1942. The species is part of the large genus Chrysobothris, which contains numerous North American jewel beetles, many of which are associated with specific host plants. Available information about this species is extremely limited, with only basic taxonomic documentation and distribution records confirming its presence in North America.
Chrysobothris humilis
Chrysobothris humilis is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species exhibits striking sexual dichromatism, with males and females displaying different coloration patterns. It has been documented in mesquite-dominated habitats in the southwestern United States. The species appears to be uncommonly encountered and is associated with Prosopis glandulosa (honey mesquite).
Chrysobothris knulli
Knull's Chrysobothris
Chrysobothris knulli is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It was described by Nelson in 1975 and is known from Central America and North America. The species is named in honor of Josef Knull, a prominent American entomologist who specialized in Buprestidae. Like other members of the genus, it is associated with woody plants, though specific host records remain limited.
Chrysobothris lateralis
Chrysobothris lateralis is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Waterhouse in 1887. The species is distributed across Central America and North America. As with other members of the genus Chrysobothris, it is presumed to have wood-boring larvae that develop within host plants, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Chrysobothris lixa
Chrysobothris lixa is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by George Henry Horn in 1886. Like other members of this large genus, it exhibits the characteristic jewel-like metallic coloration typical of buprestid beetles. The species occurs across Central America and North America, though specific details regarding its biology, host associations, and ecology remain poorly documented compared to better-studied congeners such as those in the C. femorata species-group.
Chrysobothris ludificata Horn, 1886
Chrysobothris ludificata is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by George Henry Horn in 1886. It is a member of the large genus Chrysobothris, which contains numerous species that are often difficult to distinguish from one another. The species is known to occur in Central America and North America, though specific details about its biology, host associations, and habitat preferences remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Chrysobothris nelsoni
Chrysobothris nelsoni is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Westcott & Alten in 2006. The species is known from sand dune habitats in southern Utah and northern Arizona, where it is associated with Eriogonum alatum (winged buckwheat) as its larval host plant. Adults are bright metallic green and have been observed resting on the basal rosette of leaves of their host plant during daylight hours. The species appears to have a relatively narrow seasonal activity period, with most records from late May through June.
Chrysobothris neopusilla
Chrysobothris neopusilla is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Fisher in 1942. It occurs in North America, with distribution records from Canada including Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Ontario. Like other members of the genus Chrysobothris, it is a jewel beetle with the characteristic metallic coloration and wood-boring larval habits typical of the family.
Chrysobothris neotexana
Chrysobothris neotexana is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Dozier in 1955. It is found in North America. Beyond basic taxonomic placement and geographic distribution, specific information regarding its biology, host associations, and distinguishing characteristics appears to be limited in the available literature.
Chrysobothris octocola
Chrysobothris octocola is a metallic wood-boring beetle (family Buprestidae) native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. The species is strongly associated with mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), where adults are found on dead or stressed branches and larvae develop in the wood. It represents a notable range extension into Oklahoma, where it was first documented in 2012. The species exhibits fall adult activity and has been collected in association with juniper in some areas, though mesquite remains the primary documented host.
Chrysobothris piuta
Chrysobothris piuta is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in North America. The species has been documented as breeding within dead branches of Cercocarpus (mountain mahogany), with which it has a confirmed host association. It is one of approximately two dozen jewel beetle species associated with Cercocarpus in North America.
Chrysobothris pseudacutipennis
Chrysobothris pseudacutipennis is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle (Buprestidae) described by Obenberger in 1940. It belongs to the large genus Chrysobothris, which contains numerous North American species often associated with woody host plants. The species is recorded from both North America and Central America. Like other members of its genus, it likely develops as a larva in dead or dying wood, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Chrysobothris pseudotsugae
Chrysobothris pseudotsugae is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Van Dyke in 1916. The specific epithet "pseudotsugae" indicates an association with Pseudotsuga (Douglas-fir), though detailed biological information remains limited. The species is recorded from western North America, particularly British Columbia, Canada. Like other members of the genus Chrysobothris, it likely develops in dead or dying wood, though this has not been explicitly documented.
Chrysobothris purpureoplagiata
A metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Schaeffer in 1904. The specific epithet refers to purple markings on the elytra. It belongs to the speciose genus Chrysobothris, which contains numerous species with difficult taxonomy and often subtle diagnostic characters.
Chrysobothris seminole
Chrysobothris seminole is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described in 2007 as part of a revision of the Chrysobothris femorata species-group. It is notable as the only member of this species-group associated with a non-woody host plant. The species has a highly restricted distribution in the southeastern United States and is considered rare, with only a few individuals documented at its type locality.
Chrysobothris semisculpta
A metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by LeConte in 1860. It occurs in North America. Like other members of the genus Chrysobothris, it is likely associated with woody plants, though specific host associations for this species have not been documented in the available sources.
Chrysobothris subcylindrica
Chrysobothris subcylindrica is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in North America. This species belongs to a large genus of jewel beetles whose members are typically associated with woody host plants.
Chrysobothris verdigripennis
Chrysobothris verdigripennis is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Frost in 1910. The species is distributed across northern North America, with records from Canadian provinces including Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Like other members of the genus Chrysobothris, it is a buprestid beetle with larvae that develop in wood, though specific host associations and detailed biology remain poorly documented.
Chrysobothris viridicyanea
Chrysobothris viridicyanea is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Horn in 1886. It is distributed across North America. Like other members of the genus Chrysobothris, it is a jewel beetle characterized by metallic coloration and wood-boring larval habits. The specific epithet combines Latin roots meaning "green-blue," likely referring to its metallic coloration.