Insects and Spiders - native

Golden Buprestid Beetle (Buprestis aurulenta) on Jul 14, 2022

Originally reported as Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis)

Submitter does not have a specimen

Description of specimen

Had a brilliant iridescent green long beetle land on me at Thurston HS baseball field on June 24, 2022. Didn't realize it might be invasive but saw pics of Emerald Ash Borer and that's what it looked like. Sorry for late report. Attaching pics. Have video too but too big to upload.

Commentary

Thank you for your report! This is a native, non-destructive species, the golden buprestid, Buprestis aurulenta. This insect feeds on a wide variety of conifers, unlike emerald ash borer, which feeds only on ash. The golden buprestid only attacks dying or recently dead trees. However, the grubs can survive for decades in untreated lumber cut from infested trees, sometimes emerging from houses many years after construction. Golden buprestids cannot reinfest lumber or houses. You can see more photos and a range map of golden buprestid beetles on iNaturalist, https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/215596-Buprestis-aurulenta. Emerald ash borers are about half the size of golden buprestids and a quarter as wide. There is a nice guide to look-alikes from ODA here: https://www.oregon.gov/oda/programs/IPPM/SurveyTreatment/Documents/EABLookAlikes.pdf

Lindsey Wise
July 18, 2022, 1:44 a.m.