Native-north-american-species
Guides
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.
Coccinella transversoguttata
Transverse Lady Beetle, transverse ladybird
Coccinella transversoguttata is a predatory lady beetle native to North America, now also found in Europe and Asia including the Tibetan plateau. It is recognized by the transverse black band across the base of its elytra, formed by connected spots. The species serves as an important biological control agent against aphids and other agricultural pests, though its populations appear to be declining in some regions following the introduction of competing non-native lady beetles.