Jewel Beetles, species unknown (Buprestis spp.) on Jun 10, 2023

Submitter has sample

Description of specimen

Possibly the Emerald Ash Borer. Emerald green, about a half inch. Possibly a Bronze Birch Borer, or other metallic borer, but I'm not an entomologist. I taught a quick class during graduate school at Washington State University on the EAB ten years ago, but am no expert. This is the second one I have found here. The first was smaller, closer to 3/8".

The stripes are throwing me off, and it looks a little fatter then I would expect, but it also got hit with a rock and lost a wing, so.. there's that.

If you want it, it's in a jar on my patio.

Commentary

Thank you for your report! This is not EAB. It's a native member of the Metallic Wood-boring beetle family in the genus Buprestis. The missing wing-cover does make it more difficult to identify. 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!

Tom Valente
June 12, 2023, 2:10 a.m.