Metallic-wood-boring-beetles
Guides
Acmaeodera
Acmaeodera is a large genus of jewel beetles (family Buprestidae) with over 150 species in North America, reaching greatest diversity in the desert southwest and Mexico. Adults are metallic, often with distinctive color patterns, and are frequently observed visiting flowers to feed on pollen. The genus is distinguished by unique flight morphology: elytra are fused along the midline and remain closed during flight, functioning as a protective shield over the abdomen while only the hindwings provide propulsion. This trait, combined with abdominal banding in many species, creates a wasp-like appearance in flight and has led to recognition of several species as hymenopteran mimics. Larvae are wood-borers in twigs and branches of various woody plants.
Buprestidaejewel-beetlesmetallic-wood-boring-beetlesflower-visitorspollen-feederselytra-fusionflight-morphologyhymenopteran-mimicrywood-borersNorth-AmericaMexicoArizonaTexasCaliforniaNew-MexicoOklahomaAlbertaAsteraceaeCercocarpusspring-activemonsoon-activefall-activetaxonomically-difficultcollector's-itemdiurnalCerceris-preyAcmaeoderina
Acmaeoderina is a subtribe of jewel beetles (family Buprestidae) within the tribe Acmaeoderini. Members of this group are characterized by their association with the Acmaeodera generic lineage. The subtribe was established by Kerremans in 1893 and includes genera such as Acmaeodera, Acmaeoderopsis, and Anambodera. These beetles are typically small to medium-sized with metallic coloration, and their larvae are wood-borers in various hardwood trees.
Acmaeoderini
Acmaeoderini is a tribe of metallic wood-boring beetles (family Buprestidae, subfamily Polycestinae) comprising at least 4 genera and more than 560 described species worldwide. The tribe includes the hyperdiverse genus Acmaeodera, which accounts for approximately three-fifths of North American jewel beetle diversity. Members are characterized by metallic coloration and are taxonomically challenging due to extreme intraspecific variability and poorly defined species limits. Larvae are predominantly wood-borers with documented associations across multiple plant families, while adults are frequently anthophilous.
Agaeocera
Agaeocera is a genus of metallic wood-boring beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing three described species: A. gentilis, A. gigas, and A. scintillans. The genus was established by Saunders in 1871. Based on field observations, adults of A. gentilis have been collected from Sphaeralcea (globemallow) plants in the southwestern United States and Mexico.
Agrilini
Agrilini is a tribe of metallic wood-boring beetles within the family Buprestidae, subfamily Agrilinae. The tribe comprises at least 40 described genera and over 180 described species, distributed across multiple subtribes including Agrilina, Amorphosternina, Amyiina, and Rhaeboscelidina. The genus Agrilus, the largest genus in the tribe, contains numerous species including several significant forest pests such as the emerald ash borer (A. planipennis).
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.
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.
Buprestini
metallic wood-boring beetles
Buprestini is a tribe of metallic wood-boring beetles within the family Buprestidae, established by Leach in 1815. The tribe contains approximately eight genera organized into four subtribes: Agaeocerina, Buprestina, Lamprocheilina, and Trachykelina. Notable genera include Buprestis (the type genus), Eurythyrea, Trachykele, and Lamprocheila. Members exhibit the characteristic metallic coloration and wood-boring larval habits typical of the family.
Dicercina
Dicercina is a subtribe of metallic wood-boring beetles within the family Buprestidae. It contains at least two genera, Dicerca and Lampetis, with approximately 20 described species. The subtribe belongs to the tribe Dicercini and subfamily Chrysochroinae. Members exhibit the characteristic metallic coloration typical of jewel beetles.
Dicercini
metallic wood-boring beetles
Dicercini is a tribe of metallic wood-boring beetles (family Buprestidae) comprising over 30 genera and more than 750 described species. Members are characterized by their metallic coloration and association with woody plants. The tribe includes economically significant species such as Dicerca asperata, which has been documented overwintering as larvae inside dead branches of living trees. The tribe is classified within subfamily Chrysochroinae and is distributed across multiple biogeographic regions.
Haplostethini
metallic wood-boring beetles
Haplostethini is a tribe of jewel beetles (family Buprestidae) within the subfamily Polycestinae. The tribe comprises at least 10 genera and more than 60 described species. Members are small to moderately sized metallic wood-boring beetles distributed across multiple continents. The genus Mastogenius is the most well-known in North America, with species occurring in the southwestern United States and Mexico. The tribe was established by LeConte in 1861.
Hippomelanina
Hippomelanina is a subtribe of metallic wood-boring beetles within the family Buprestidae, established by Holynski in 1993. It comprises at least four genera—Barrellus, Gyascutus, Hippomelas, and Prasinalia—and approximately 15 described species. Members of this subtribe are classified within the tribe Dicercini and subfamily Chrysochroinae. The subtribe represents a relatively small but distinct lineage within the diverse jewel beetle fauna.
Leiopleura
Leiopleura is a large genus of metallic wood-boring beetles (family Buprestidae) comprising over 150 described species. The genus was established by Deyrolle in 1864 and is distributed across the Neotropics and Oceania. Species in this genus exhibit the characteristic metallic coloration and streamlined body form typical of buprestid beetles.
Melanophilini
Melanophilini is a tribe of metallic wood-boring beetles (family Buprestidae) containing at least 4 genera and approximately 20 described species. The tribe is characterized by its placement within the Chrysobothrioid lineage and is distinguished from related tribes by morphological features of the adults. The genus Phaenops, one of the more diverse genera in the tribe, includes species associated with coniferous trees.
Parauleutes
Parauleutes is a genus of metallic wood-boring beetles in the family Buprestidae, subfamily Polycestinae. The genus is closely related to Acmaeodera and is restricted to western North America. Species within Parauleutes remain poorly represented in collections due to cryptic habits, and the genus is currently in need of taxonomic revision with multiple undescribed species known to exist.
Pirhidius
Pirhidius is a genus of metallic wood-boring beetles in the family Buprestidae, tribe Acmaeoderini. The genus contains at least one undescribed species, indicating incomplete taxonomic knowledge of this group. Members of this genus are part of the diverse North American buprestid fauna that remains understudied relative to more commonly collected groups.
Taphrocerus sulcifrons
Taphrocerus sulcifrons is a small buprestid beetle described by Fisher in 1922. The species belongs to the genus Taphrocerus, a group of minute metallic beetles often associated with sedges and other herbaceous plants in moist habitats. Based on collection records, this species occurs in both Middle America and North America. Field observations indicate adults are active in spring and early summer, with specimens collected by sweeping vegetation near water sources.
Xenorhipidina
Xenorhipidina is a subtribe of metallic wood-boring beetles (family Buprestidae) established by Cobos in 1986. It is classified within the tribe Xenorhipidini, which belongs to the subfamily Buprestinae. The subtribe is part of the anthaxioid lineage within the buprestid phylogeny. The genus Hesperorhipis, described by Fall in 1930, is the primary genus assigned to this subtribe.