Wood-boring-beetle
Guides
Acanthocinus angulosus
Acanthocinus angulosus is a species of longhorn beetle in the subfamily Lamiinae, first described by Thomas Casey in 1913. It is known from North America, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain limited in published literature. The species belongs to a genus of wood-boring beetles whose larvae typically develop beneath bark of coniferous trees.
Acanthocinus leechi
Acanthocinus leechi is a species of longhorn beetle in the subfamily Lamiinae, described by Lawrence S. Dillon in 1956. It belongs to the tribe Acanthocinini, which includes numerous wood-boring beetles associated with coniferous and hardwood trees. Like other members of its genus, this species likely exhibits cryptic coloration adapted to bark-dwelling habits. The species epithet honors an individual named Leech, though the specific honoree is not documented in available sources.
Acanthocinus obliquus
Acanthocinus obliquus is a species of longhorn beetle in the subfamily Lamiinae, described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1862. It belongs to the tribe Acanthocinini, a group characterized by somber coloration and wood-boring larvae. The species is distributed across North America, with records from western Canada and the United States. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with coniferous forests and likely exhibits cryptic coloration adapted to pine bark.
Acmaeodera connexa
metallic wood-boring beetle
Acmaeodera connexa is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by LeConte in 1859. The species is found in North America, particularly associated with the genus Cercocarpus (mountain mahogany) in western North America. It is one of approximately two dozen buprestid species associated with Cercocarpus, and has been confirmed breeding within dead branches of these plants.
Acmaeodera dolorosa
Acmaeodera dolorosa is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in North America. Two subspecies are recognized: A. dolorosa dolorosa Fall, 1899 and A. dolorosa liberta Fall, 1922. The species is one of approximately two dozen jewel beetles associated with Cercocarpus (mountain mahogany) in western North America.
Acmaeodera errans
Acmaeodera errans is a species of jewel beetle (family Buprestidae) described by Barr in 1972. It belongs to the large genus Acmaeodera, which contains over 150 species in North America and is in need of taxonomic revision. Very little specific information has been published about this particular species beyond its original description and basic taxonomic classification.
Acmaeodera mariposa dohrni
Acmaeodera mariposa dohrni is a subspecies of jewel beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is one of approximately two dozen buprestid species associated with Cercocarpus (mountain mahogany) in western North America. The species is part of the Acmaeodera mariposa complex, which includes the nominate subspecies A. m. mariposa. This subspecies has been confirmed breeding in dead branches of Cercocarpus ledifolius and is among five buprestid species exclusively associated with this host genus.
Acmaeodera nelsoni
Acmaeodera nelsoni is a species of jewel beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Barr in 1972. It belongs to the nominate subgenus Acmaeodera (s. str.). The species has been documented as associated with Cercocarpus ledifolius (curl-leaf mountain mahogany), a host relationship confirmed through rearing records. It is one of approximately two dozen North American Buprestidae species linked to Cercocarpus hosts, with several species in this genus being Cercocarpus specialists.
Acmaeodera nexa
Acmaeodera nexa is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Henry Clinton Fall in 1922. It is one of approximately 150 species in the genus Acmaeodera in North America, a taxonomically challenging group often referred to as jewel beetles due to their metallic coloration. The species is associated with Cercocarpus (mountain mahogany) in western North America, where adults have been observed and larvae likely develop in dead branches.
Acmaeodera pubiventris yumae
Acmaeodera pubiventris yumae is a subspecies of jewel beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Knull in 1937. It belongs to the nominate subgenus Acmaeodera (s. str.) and is part of a species complex associated with woody host plants in western North America. The subspecies epithet "yumae" suggests a connection to the Yuma region, though precise type locality details are not provided in available sources. Like other members of Acmaeodera, adults are likely active during warmer months and associated with flowers or host plant foliage.
Acmaeodera purshiae
bitterbrush jewel beetle
Acmaeodera purshiae, commonly known as the bitterbrush jewel beetle, is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species was described by Fisher in 1926 and is native to North America. The common name suggests an association with bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata), a shrub in the Rosaceae family common in western North American arid lands. As with many Acmaeodera species, adults likely visit flowers for pollen feeding, though specific behavioral observations for this species remain limited in published literature.
Acmaeoderopsis prosopis
Acmaeoderopsis prosopis is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Davidson in 2006. The species is found in North America, with documented occurrences in the southwestern United States. Field observations indicate it is associated with mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), from which the species epithet derives. Adults have been collected by beating mesquite vegetation and are known to fly quickly when disturbed.
Actenodes flexicaulis
Actenodes flexicaulis is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Schaeffer in 1904. It belongs to a genus of jewel beetles distributed across North America. Like other Actenodes species, it is presumed to develop as larvae in dead wood of woody host plants, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Actenodes mendax
Actenodes mendax is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in North America. The species was described by Horn in 1891. Based on field observations, adults have been collected on Prosopis glandulosa (honey mesquite) in clay/gypsum mixed-grass prairie habitats in Oklahoma.
Agrilus addendus
Agrilus addendus is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species was described by Crotch in 1873 and occurs in Central America and North America. Like most members of the hyperdiverse genus Agrilus, adults are associated with foliage of their larval host plants rather than flowers. The species has been documented from Texas, where it has been swept from mesquite-acacia fence lines.
Agrilus amelanchieri
Agrilus amelanchieri is a metallic wood-boring beetle (family Buprestidae) described by Knull in 1944. The species belongs to the hyperdiverse genus Agrilus, which contains nearly 4,000 described species and may be the largest genus in the animal kingdom. Based on the specific epithet and comparison with congeners such as A. vittaticollis, this species is likely associated with serviceberry (Amelanchier) as a larval host. Like other members of the genus, adults are probably found on foliage of their host plants. The species occurs in North America, with records from Ontario and Québec in Canada.
Agrilus arbuti
Agrilus arbuti is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle (family Buprestidae) described by Fisher in 1928. The species epithet 'arbuti' suggests an association with plants in the genus Arbutus (Ericaceae), though specific host relationships remain undocumented. It is found in North America and belongs to one of the largest genera in the animal kingdom, with most Agrilus species developing as larvae in recently dead wood of woody plants.
Agrilus barberi
Agrilus barberi is a species of jewel beetle (family Buprestidae) described by Fisher in 1928. The species belongs to the hyperdiverse genus Agrilus, which contains over 3,000 described species worldwide. Based on the taxonomic placement and typical characteristics of the genus, this species likely exhibits the metallic coloration and wood-boring larval habits common to many Agrilus species. However, specific biological details for A. barberi remain poorly documented in available literature.
Agrilus frosti
Agrilus frosti is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Knull in 1920. It is found in North America, with documented occurrences in Canada (Manitoba, Nova Scotia) and the United States. The species is poorly known and rarely collected; in Missouri, only two specimens have been documented—one beaten from post oak at Lichen Glade Natural Area and another captured in a malaise trap in central Missouri.
Agrilus fuscipennis
persimmon agrilus
Agrilus fuscipennis, commonly known as the persimmon agrilus, is a relatively large and striking jewel beetle distinguished by its vivid red pronotum and black elytra. It is among the most seldom encountered members of its genus in Missouri and surrounding regions. Unlike most Agrilus species, which develop in dead wood, A. fuscipennis mines the lower trunks, crown, and main roots of living persimmon trees. The species is rarely collected, with most records consisting of single specimens beaten from host plants.
Agrilus granulatus
granulate poplar borer
Agrilus granulatus, commonly known as the granulate poplar borer, is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found across North America and is strongly associated with Populus species as its larval host. The species has been divided into four subspecies, with the nominate form A. g. granulatus restricted to areas east of the Rocky Mountains. Adults are typically collected by beating branches of host plants, particularly those showing recent dieback.
Agrilus granulatus granulatus
Eastern Cottonwood Borer
Agrilus granulatus granulatus is a jewel beetle subspecies restricted to eastern North America east of the Rocky Mountains. Adults are commonly associated with cottonwood (Populus deltoides) and Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra 'Italica'), where they can be found on branches of host plants. The species is frequently confused with A. quadriguttatus, which breeds on willow rather than poplar. This subspecies represents the nominate form of A. granulatus, with other populations assigned to separate subspecies.
Agrilus granulatus populi
Poplar jewel beetle, Poplar buprestid
Agrilus granulatus populi is a subspecies of jewel beetle in the family Buprestidae, associated with cottonwood and poplar trees (Populus spp.) across North America. It is one of several subspecies assigned to A. granulatus, with the nominate form A. g. granulatus restricted to the eastern United States east of the Rocky Mountains. This wood-boring beetle develops in dead or dying branches of its host plants and is commonly collected by beating branches onto a sheet.
Agrilus hespenheidei
Henry's Agrilus
Agrilus hespenheidei is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It occurs in North America. The species was described in 1991 and is named in honor of entomologist Henry Hespenheide. Field observations indicate adults are associated with flowers of Bouvardia ternifolia (firecrackerbush).
Agrilus huachucae
Agrilus huachucae is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Schaeffer in 1905. The species has been documented in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona, where it occurs in association with Helianthus (sunflower) vegetation. It is part of the hyperdiverse genus Agrilus, which contains hundreds of species worldwide, many with specialized host plant relationships.
Agrilus illectus
Agrilus illectus is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It was described by Fall in 1901 and occurs in North America. Like other members of the genus Agrilus, it is a twig and branch borer that develops in wood. The species is poorly documented in the literature, with minimal published information on its biology, host associations, or distribution patterns beyond basic occurrence records.
Agrilus juglandis
Butternut Agrilus
Agrilus juglandis, commonly known as the butternut agrilus, is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It was described by Knull in 1920 and is native to North America. The species is associated with walnut trees (Juglans spp.), as indicated by its specific epithet. Like other members of the hyper-diverse genus Agrilus, it is a metallic wood-borer whose larvae develop in woody hosts.
Agrilus lautuellus
Agrilus lautuellus is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Fisher in 1928. The species is found in North America. Based on field observations, adults have been collected from Diospyros texana (Texas persimmon) foliage in west Texas, where they were observed sitting on leaves in the manner typical of many Agrilus species. Like other members of the genus, it is presumed to develop as a larva in recently dead wood of its host plant, though larval biology remains unconfirmed.
Agrilus macer
Large Hackberry Agrilus
Agrilus macer is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, primarily associated with sugarberry (Celtis laevigata) in the southeastern United States. The species is considered a secondary pest that attacks dying or declining host trees at high densities, with egg masses deposited on trunks, branches, and exposed roots. Despite intensive colonization of weakened hosts, it does not appear to transmit harmful fungal pathogens or act as a primary cause of tree mortality.
Agrilus obolinus
Agrilus obolinus is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by LeConte in 1860. The species occurs in Central America and North America. Like other members of the genus Agrilus, it is presumed to develop as a larva in woody plant tissue, though specific host associations and biological details remain poorly documented. The species has been rarely encountered in collections, with only two iNaturalist observations recorded.
Agrilus otiosus
hickory agrilus
Agrilus otiosus, commonly known as the hickory agrilus, is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species was described by Thomas Say in 1833. It belongs to the large genus Agrilus, which contains numerous species associated with woody host plants. The specific epithet "otiosus" and common name suggest an association with hickory (Carya) species as larval hosts, consistent with patterns observed in related Agrilus species.
Agrilus paracelti
Agrilus paracelti is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Knull in 1972. It belongs to the hyperdiverse genus Agrilus, the largest genus in the family. The species is documented from North America and has been collected from hackberry (Celtis spp.) in Oklahoma. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to have larvae that tunnel in woody host plants.
Agrilus parkeri
Agrilus parkeri is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Knull in 1935. It is distributed across Central America and North America. Like other members of the genus Agrilus, it is a wood-borer with larvae that develop in plant tissue. Specific biological details remain poorly documented in published literature.
Agrilus prionurus
Soapberry Borer
Agrilus prionurus, commonly known as the soapberry borer, is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species is native to North America and Central America. Like other members of the genus Agrilus, it is presumed to develop as larvae in wood, though specific biological details remain poorly documented. The common name suggests an association with soapberry plants (Sapindus), but this relationship has not been rigorously confirmed in published literature.
Agrilus pulchellus
Beautiful Fleabane Root-borer
Agrilus pulchellus is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in Central America and North America, with records from the southwestern United States and Mexico. The species is associated with fleabane (Erigeron) as a host plant, as indicated by its common name. Like other Agrilus species, it is a wood-borer whose larvae develop in plant roots or stems.
Agrilus quadriguttatus
Four-spotted Agrilus
Agrilus quadriguttatus is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species is native to North America and is among the smaller buprestid beetles utilized as prey by the specialist hunting wasp Cerceris fumipennis. Subspecific variation exists, with three recognized subspecies including the nominate form.
Agrilus quercicola
Agrilus quercicola is a species of jewel beetle (family Buprestidae) described by Fisher in 1928. The specific epithet "quercicola" indicates an association with oak (Quercus), a pattern consistent with many Agrilus species that develop in woody plants. Like other members of this hyperdiverse genus, it is presumed to be a wood-boring beetle with larval development in oak tissue. The species is recorded from North America.
Agrilus restrictus
Agrilus restrictus is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species was described by Waterhouse in 1889 and occurs in Central America and North America. Field observations indicate it is associated with oak woodlands, specifically collected by beating Emory oak (Quercus emoryi). The species appears to be uncommon and has been noted as a desirable target for collectors in the southwestern United States.
Agrilus sayi
Bayberry Agrilus
Agrilus sayi, commonly known as the bayberry agrilus, is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is native to North America, with documented occurrence in Canada (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia) and the United States. As a member of the enormous genus Agrilus, which contains nearly 4,000 described species, A. sayi represents one of many twig and branch-boring buprestids that develop in recently dead wood.
Agrilus scitulus
Native Soapberry Borer, Beautiful Soapberry Borer
Agrilus scitulus is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, commonly known as the native soapberry borer or beautiful soapberry borer. It is native to North America and is associated with soapberry plants (Sapindus). Like other members of the genus Agrilus, it develops as a larva in woody tissue, though specific details of its biology remain limited.
Agrilus torquatus
Agrilus torquatus is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species was described by LeConte in 1860 and is known to occur in North America. Like other members of the hyperdiverse genus Agrilus, it is presumed to develop as a larva in wood, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Agrilus toxotes
Agrilus toxotes is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, described by Obenberger in 1935. The species was historically known only from Mexico until specimens were collected in south Texas in the 1980s, representing a northward range extension into the United States. It belongs to the large genus Agrilus, which contains hundreds of species worldwide. The species name refers to the archer fish genus Toxotes, though the specific reason for this epithet choice is not documented in available sources.
Ambrosiodmus rubricollis
Ambrosiodmus rubricollis is an ambrosia beetle native to eastern and southern Asia that has been introduced to Europe and North America. As a member of the genus Ambrosiodmus, it maintains a mutualistic symbiosis with the white-rot fungus Flavodon ambrosius, which is capable of true wood decomposition—an unusual trait among ambrosia beetles. The species has been documented attacking young Tasmanian blue gum trees (Eucalyptus globulus) in Portugal and has been detected in Slovenia and Italy. Its introduction to non-native regions raises concern given the potential of Ambrosiodmus species to vector pathogenic fungi.
Amphicerus simplex
horned powder-post beetle
Amphicerus simplex is a species of horned powder-post beetle in the family Bostrichidae. The species is known from North America. As a member of the Bostrichidae family, it is associated with wood-boring habits typical of the group. It was described by Horn in 1885.
Amphicerus teres
horned powder-post beetle
Amphicerus teres is a species of horned powder-post beetle in the family Bostrichidae. The species was described by Horn in 1878. It is known from North America. The common name "powder-post beetle" refers to the larval habit of boring into wood and reducing it to a fine, powdery frass.
Aneflomorpha seminuda
Aneflomorpha seminuda is a species of longhorn beetle (family Cerambycidae) in the tribe Elaphidiini. It was described by Thomas L. Casey in 1912 and occurs in North America. The species is part of a genus of small to medium-sized cerambycids commonly associated with woody vegetation. Specific biological details remain poorly documented in published literature.
Anelaphus subdepressus
Anelaphus subdepressus is a species of longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, described by Schaeffer in 1904. It belongs to the genus Anelaphus, commonly known as twig pruners, whose larvae develop in living branches of deciduous trees. The species is part of the tribe Elaphidiini within the subfamily Cerambycinae. Available information on this species is limited, with few documented observations.
Anobium
furniture beetles
Anobium is a genus of wood-boring beetles in the family Ptinidae, comprising approximately seven extant and five extinct species. The genus is best known for Anobium punctatum, the common furniture beetle, a significant pest of seasoned timber and wooden structures. The name derives from Greek meaning "lifeless," referring to the beetles' thanatosis behavior when disturbed. Species in this genus are associated with dead wood and wooden materials, with larvae tunneling through timber and causing structural damage.
Anobium punctatum
Common furniture beetle, Common house borer, House borer
Anobium punctatum is a woodboring beetle commonly known as the furniture beetle or house borer. Adults are small beetles measuring 2.7–4.5 mm with brown, ellipsoidal bodies and a distinctive prothorax resembling a monk's cowl. The species has a documented annual emergence pattern in December in some populations, with females laying an average of 54.8 eggs after a short preoviposition period. Larvae bore into and feed upon wood, making this species a significant pest of wooden structures and furniture.
Apatides fortis
Apatides fortis is a species of bostrichid beetle (family Bostrichidae), a group commonly known as false powderpost beetles or branch borers. The species was described by LeConte in 1866 and occurs in North America. Based on field observations, adults have been attracted to ultraviolet light at night in sand dune habitats of western Texas. The genus Apatides includes wood-boring beetles whose larvae typically develop in dead or dying woody material.