Insects and Spiders - native

unknown on Apr 23, 2023

Originally reported as Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis)

Submitter does not have a specimen

Description of specimen

Small emerald colored insect that looked like an emerald ash borer (I looked up images after to confirm). The tree I was parked next to had several bore holes on it.

Commentary

Thank you for your report! Without a photo of the insect or the damage to the tree, we can't guess whether the insect you saw might be EAB. It is a little early in the spring for adults to be flying -- but we don't really know yet how this pest will behave in Oregon!

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 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!

Tom Valente
April 24, 2023, 1:42 a.m.

Location

I’m a teacher at Wilsonville HS, I parked my car in the staff parking spots directly in front of the school next to a tree with I believe is an ash tree and when I returned to my car, there was a small emerald colored insect on my door, flew away before I could seat it. This was yesterday, Saturday 4/22/23. I looked up images and believe it was an emerald ash borer. I also noticed that the tree had several bore holes on the trunk at about 4’ height.

Expert Reviewer

Tom Valente
Oregon Department of Agriculture

© 2025 Portland State University | Contact us for questions regarding site content