Insects and Spiders - native

Golden Buprestid Beetle (Buprestis aurulenta) on Jul 27, 2022

Submitter does not have a specimen

Description of specimen

The beetle landed on my sins arm when he got out of the car. It was about 5/8" long and a 1/4" wide. It had bright shiney green wing covers and a shiney head that changed colors when moved in the light. We have pictures he took of Jeff.
Jeff the Emerald Ash Beetle Jeff the Beetle

Commentary

Thank you for your report! This is not EAB. It's a native member of the Metallic Wood-boring beetle family, the Golden Buprestid, Buprestis aurulenta. These beetles are larger and less slender than EAB. They are not tree killers. Their grubs live in dead conifers.

There are a number of iridescent green look-alike beetles in Oregon that are not pests. I am attaching a link to the ODA EAB webpage with some photos of other Oregon insects that could be mistaken for EAB

https://www.oregon.gov/oda/programs/IPPM/SurveyTreatment/Documents/EABLookAlikes.pdf

Thanks for being on the lookout!

There are systemic insecticides that can protect valuable ash trees. Please check the ODA website for information about pesticides registered for use in Oregon.

Tom Valente
July 28, 2022, 4:42 a.m.

Resources

Golden Buprestid Beetle information from iNaturalist

Location

We just pulled up to the side walk and when my son got out he said "Hey aren't you a cool looking beetle" I went around and saw him taking a picture of the beetle on his hand. I said that looks just like the Ash Beetle I saw online that is just arrived in Oregon. He named it Jeff and put it on the large wood address sign of 325 Second St. Downtown Bandon OR.

Expert Reviewer

Tom Valente
Oregon Department of Agriculture

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