Metallic-wood-boring-beetle
Guides
Chrysobothris vulcanica
A metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, found in western North America. The species is named for its volcanic association, with records from volcanic regions of the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountains. Like other members of the genus Chrysobothris, it develops in dead or dying wood, though specific host plant associations remain poorly documented compared to better-studied congeners.
Chrysobothris westcotti
Westcott's flathead
Chrysobothris westcotti is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Barr in 1969. It is found in North America. The species belongs to the large genus Chrysobothris, which contains numerous similar-looking flatheaded borers that are often difficult to distinguish without detailed examination.
Chrysobothris woodgatei
Chrysobothris woodgatei is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Champlain and Knull in 1922. It belongs to the large genus Chrysobothris, a group of jewel beetles known for their metallic coloration and association with woody plants. The species is recorded from North America, though specific details regarding its biology, host associations, and distribution remain poorly documented compared to better-known congeners such as those in the C. femorata species-group.
Dicerca hornii
Dicerca hornii is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Crotch in 1873. The species is native to North America and has been documented in association with Cercocarpus (mountain mahogany) in the Lake Tahoe region. Three subspecies are recognized: D. hornii ampliata, D. hornii hornii, and D. hornii nelsoni. Like other members of the genus Dicerca, this species exhibits cryptic coloration that provides effective camouflage against tree bark.
Gyascutus caelatus
Gyascutus caelatus is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species is distributed across Central America and North America. Field observations from Arizona indicate adults are active during summer months and are associated with Acacia species, particularly sweet acacia (Acacia rigidula).
Gyascutus dianae
Gyascutus dianae is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It occurs in Central America and North America. As a member of the genus Gyascutus, it belongs to a group of buprestid beetles known for their large size and often distinctive waxy bloom covering the elytra. The species was originally described as Hippomelas dianae by Helfer in 1954.
Gyascutus fulgidus
Gyascutus fulgidus is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, originally described by Barr in 1969. The species is native to western North America, particularly the Great Basin region. Based on genus-level characteristics, adults are known to possess a pale yellow-white waxy bloom on the elytra, which is believed to serve a thermoregulatory function in these desert-dwelling insects. The species has been collected on willow (Salix) in western Nevada.
Gyascutus planicosta
Gyascutus planicosta is a large metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. Adults reach up to 50 mm in length and display brilliant metallic coloration. The species occurs in the desert southwest of North America, with larvae developing in living roots of host plants rather than dead wood. Three subspecies are recognized, with G. p. obliteratus occurring in western Texas and southern New Mexico.
Gyascutus planicosta obliteratus
Gyascutus planicosta obliteratus is a subspecies of metallic wood-boring beetle (family Buprestidae) found in the southwestern United States. The species is associated with saltbush habitats, particularly Atriplex canescens (four-winged saltbush), on which adults have been observed perching. The subspecies represents one of several regional forms within the Gyascutus planicosta complex. Field observations from southeastern New Mexico indicate late-season adult activity in September.
Hesperorhipis jacumbae
Hesperorhipis jacumbae is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Knull in 1954. It belongs to the tribe Xenorhipidini, a group notable for extreme sexual dimorphism in male antennae. Like other members of its genus, it possesses abbreviated elytra that expose much of the abdomen. The species is found in North America, specifically in the southwestern United States.
Hesperorhipis mirabilis
Hesperorhipis mirabilis is a small metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, tribe Xenorhipidini. It is one of four species in the genus Hesperorhipis, which is restricted to Arizona and California. The species is characterized by highly abbreviated elytra, particularly in males, and belongs to a tribe notable for extreme sexual dimorphism in antennal structure. Two subspecies are recognized: H. m. mirabilis and H. m. albopennis.
Hippomelas planicauda
Hippomelas planicauda is a large buprestid beetle (family Buprestidae) found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. The species is associated with leguminous host plants, particularly Mimosa dysocarpa (velvetpod mimosa), on which adults are frequently collected by beating flowering branches. It occurs in desert scrub and canyon habitats of southeastern Arizona and adjacent regions, where it is often found in company with other large buprestids such as Hippomelas sphenicus and Gyascutus caelatus.
Knowltonia calida
Knowltonia calida is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in Central America and North America. The genus Knowltonia is characterized by extreme sexual dimorphism in antennae, with males possessing highly modified flabellate or bipectinate antennae while females retain unmodified serrate antennae. This antennal modification is presumed to function in detecting female sex pheromones.
Lampetis cupreopunctata
Tamaulipan Copper-spotted Buprestid
A metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, characterized by copper-spotted coloration. Native to the Nearctic and Neotropical regions, with documented presence in Central America and North America. The common name references the Tamaulipan region, suggesting association with northeastern Mexico and adjacent areas.
Lampetis drummondi
Drummond's metallic wood-boring beetle
Lampetis drummondi is a large, metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, reaching up to 50 mm in length. Adults are brilliant blue-green in color with distinctive punctation patterns on the elytra. The species occurs in the desert southwest of North America and Central America. Adults are often found resting on small trees and shrubs, particularly persimmon (Diospyros texana) in western Texas, and are notably sluggish and easily captured by hand. The larval biology remained unknown until 2004, when larvae were discovered feeding in living willow (Salix gooddingii) wood at the soil line.
Lampetis webbii
Lampetis webbii is a large metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. Adults reach up to 50 mm in length and display brilliant blue-green coloration. The species is known from the desert southwest of North America, with records from Arizona, and is considerably rarer than its congener L. drummondii. Larval biology remains unknown, though related species in the genus develop in living wood below the soil line.
Leiopleura otero
Leiopleura otero is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Fisher in 1935. The species is known from the Caribbean Sea and North America. As a member of Buprestidae, it exhibits the characteristic metallic coloration typical of jewel beetles. Available information about this species is limited, with only a single observation recorded in iNaturalist.
Macrorrhyncha coxalis
Macrorrhyncha coxalis is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species belongs to a genus within the diverse buprestid fauna, though specific details about its biology and distribution remain poorly documented in available literature. Like other members of Buprestidae, it likely develops in woody plants, with larvae boring through cambium and sapwood. The genus Macrorrhyncha is not among the better-studied buprestid genera, and most information about this species would require examination of primary taxonomic literature or museum specimens.
Mastogenius castlei
Mastogenius castlei is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Champlain and Knull in 1922. The genus Mastogenius comprises some of the smallest buprestids, with adults measuring approximately 2 mm in length. Very little specific information is documented for this species; most knowledge of the genus derives from congeneric species.
Mastogenius crenulatus
Mastogenius crenulatus is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Knull in 1934. It is one of the smallest buprestids in North America, measuring approximately 2 mm in length. The genus Mastogenius is characterized by its diminutive size and cryptic dark coloration, making adults appear as tiny black dots on vegetation.
Nanularia pygmaea
Nanularia pygmaea is a small metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species was described by Knull in 1941 and is known from North America. It belongs to the Nanularia genus group within the subfamily Chrysochroinae.
Pachyschelus fisheri
Pachyschelus fisheri is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It was described by Vogt in 1949. The species belongs to the tribe Trachyini, a group characterized by flattened, compact body forms and leaf-mining larval habits. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with herbaceous host plants. It is found in North America.
Pachyschelus nicolayi
Pachyschelus nicolayi is a small metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, tribe Trachyini. The species is characterized by its blue coloration without pubescent spotting, distinguishing it from the similar P. purpureus. It is known to breed in Apios americana (groundnut) and Wisteria frutescens (American wisteria), with adults active later in the season than the related P. purpureus. The species has been recorded from North America, though its distribution appears to be less well documented than some congeners.
Pachyschelus schwarzi
Pachyschelus schwarzi is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It belongs to the tribe Trachyini, a group characterized by small, flattened, wedge-shaped adults with larvae that mine within leaves rather than boring through wood. The species is found in North America. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with herbaceous host plants, though specific details remain poorly documented.
Pachyschelus secedens
Pachyschelus secedens is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It occurs in Central America and North America, with confirmed records from the southwestern United States including Arizona. Field observations indicate it is associated with Desmodium species, on which it has been collected by beating vegetation.
Paragrilus rugatulus
Metallic Woodborer
Paragrilus rugatulus is a metallic wood-boring beetle (Buprestidae: Agrilinae) described by Thomson in 1879. It belongs to the P. rugatulus species group, one of three species groups recognized in the genus for North and Central America. The species occurs in the United States and extends into Central America. Members of its species group are associated with plants in the genus Sida (Malvaceae).
Paratyndaris acaciae
Paratyndaris acaciae is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It belongs to the subgenus Paratyndaris (Paratyndaris) within the genus Paratyndaris. The species is found in Central America and North America, with the specific epithet suggesting an association with Acacia host plants. Like other members of the genus, it is associated with woody leguminous plants and is typically collected by beating dead or dying branches.
Paratyndaris albofasciata
Paratyndaris albofasciata is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Knull in 1937. It belongs to the subgenus Paratyndaris (Paratyndaris) within the genus Paratyndaris. The species is known from Central America and North America, though specific biological details remain poorly documented in the accessible literature.
Paratyndaris chamaeleonis
Paratyndaris chamaeleonis is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. Originally described as Tyndaris chamaeleonis by Skinner in 1903, it was later transferred to the genus Paratyndaris. The species belongs to the subgenus Knulliella, one of three subgenera recognized in the genus. It is found in Central America and North America, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain limited in available sources.
Paratyndaris cincta
Paratyndaris cincta is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It belongs to the subgenus Paratyndaris (Paratyndaris), one of three subgenera recognized in the genus Paratyndaris. The species was described by Horn in 1885. It is distributed across Central America and North America.
Paratyndaris knulli
Paratyndaris knulli is a small metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, placed in the subgenus Waltersia. It was originally described by Barr in 1972 and occurs in Central America and North America. The genus Paratyndaris is a largely southwestern and Mexican group of jewel beetles, with P. knulli being one of four species in its subgenus. Like other members of the genus, it is associated with dead woody vegetation.
Paratyndaris olneyae
Paratyndaris olneyae is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, originally described as Tyndaris olneyae by Skinner in 1903. It is classified in the subgenus Paratyndaris (Paratyndaris) within the genus Paratyndaris, a predominantly southwestern North American and Mexican group. The species occurs in Central America and North America, though specific details about its biology and host associations remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Paratyndaris suturalis
Paratyndaris suturalis is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Fall in 1934. It belongs to the subgenus Knulliella within the genus Paratyndaris. The species is distributed across the Caribbean Sea and North America, with records from the Neotropical region. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with woody host plants, though specific biological details remain poorly documented in accessible literature.
Phaenops lecontei
Phaenops lecontei is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The genus Phaenops comprises species associated with coniferous trees, particularly pines. P. lecontei occurs in North America, with records from British Columbia, Canada and Alaska, United States. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to develop in wood of Pinus species, though specific host associations for this species remain poorly documented.
Poecilonota californica
western poplar buprestid
Poecilonota californica, commonly known as the western poplar buprestid, is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species was described by Chamberlin in 1922 and is endemic to North America. Like other members of the genus Poecilonota, this beetle exhibits the characteristic metallic coloration typical of jewel beetles.
Poecilonota thureura
Poecilonota thureura is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species is found in North America, with records from Canada (Manitoba, Saskatchewan) and the United States. It has been collected as prey by the biosurveillance wasp Cerceris fumipennis, which specializes in capturing buprestid beetles. The species is considered uncommon in collections.
Polycesta californica
Polycesta californica is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by LeConte in 1857. It belongs to the subgenus Tularensia within the genus Polycesta. The species is native to western North America, with records from California and surrounding regions. As a member of the jewel beetle family, it exhibits the characteristic metallic coloration typical of Buprestidae.
Polycesta flavomaculata
Polycesta flavomaculata is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Nelson in 1960. The species is found in North America and belongs to the genus Polycesta, which comprises approximately 50 species distributed primarily in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. Like other members of the Polycestinae subfamily, it exhibits the characteristic metallic coloration typical of jewel beetles.
Polycesta goryi
Polycesta goryi is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in North America.
Polycesta hageni
Polycesta hageni is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Barr in 1949. It is endemic to North America. Like other members of the genus Polycesta, it is associated with woody host plants, though specific biological details remain poorly documented. The species is rarely encountered and has only a handful of documented observations.
Polycesta tularensis
Polycesta tularensis is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Chamberlin in 1938. It belongs to the subgenus Tularensia within the genus Polycesta. The species is known from North America, with its specific epithet suggesting an association with Tulare County or the Tulare region of California. Like other members of its genus, it likely develops in dead or dying wood of its host plants.
Ptosima idolynae
Ptosima idolynae is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Frost in 1923. It is one of few documented species in the genus Ptosima, which contains small to medium-sized jewel beetles. The species is known from North America, though specific details about its biology remain poorly documented.
Ptosima laeta
Texas redbud borer
Ptosima laeta, commonly known as the Texas redbud borer, is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It was described by Waterhouse in 1882. The species is found in Central America and North America. As a member of Buprestidae, it belongs to a family commonly referred to as jewel beetles or metallic wood-boring beetles, characterized by their often striking metallic coloration and larvae that bore into wood.
Ptosima walshii
Ptosima walshii is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by LeConte in 1863. It belongs to a genus of jewel beetles characterized by their distinctive coloration. The species occurs in North America within the Nearctic realm.
Spectralia cuprescens
Spectralia cuprescens is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, originally described by Knull in 1940. The species is known from North America, with records from the southwestern United States including Arizona. Very little is documented about its biology, host associations, or specific habitat preferences beyond its general occurrence in xeric regions.
Spectralia prosternalis
Spectralia prosternalis is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Schaeffer in 1904. The genus Spectralia comprises small to medium-sized jewel beetles with distinctive coloration. This species is recorded from North America. Members of this genus are typically associated with woody plants, though specific host relationships for S. prosternalis remain undocumented.
Spectralia purpurascens
Spectralia purpurascens is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Schaeffer in 1905. The species is found in North America, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain limited in published literature. As with other members of the genus Spectralia, it is presumed to have a wood-boring larval stage, but host associations and other life history traits have not been documented.
Sphaerobothris platti
Sphaerobothris platti is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It was described by Cazier in 1938. The species is known from southern California, with records from San Diego County, and is part of the genus Sphaerobothris, which belongs to the tribe Coraebini within the subfamily Agrilinae.
Sphaerobothris ulkei
Sphaerobothris ulkei is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species is native to arid regions of North America and Central America. It has been documented in association with Ephedra species (joint-fir), particularly Ephedra trifurca in desert habitats of the southwestern United States. The beetle is considered uncommon and requires targeted searching to locate.
Taphrocerus albodistinctus
Taphrocerus albodistinctus is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Knull in 1954. It is found in North America. Like other members of the genus Taphrocerus, it is likely associated with sedges (Carex spp.) in wetland or moist habitat edges, though specific host associations for this species have not been documented.