Insects and Spiders - native

Western Cedar Borer (Trachykele blondeli) on Jun 12, 2023

Originally reported as Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis)

Submitter does not have a specimen

Description of specimen

shades of green and looked almost glittery. Longish and slender

Commentary

Thank you for your report! This is not EAB. It's a native member of the Metallic Wood-boring beetle family, the Western cedar borer, Trachykele blondeli. These beetles are larger and less slender than EAB. They are not tree killers.

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, 1:42 a.m.

Resources

Western Cedar Borer information on iNaturalist and a guide to wood boring beetles in Oregon from the Oregon Department of Forestry.

Location

It was in my yard. I thought it was pretty so I took a picture and posted it on my facebook page and had multiple people tell me it was a emerald ash borer. I had already let it go and couldn't find it again. I do have a couple pictures of it. I tried taking videos of it but it was moving the whole time and my phone wouldn't focus on it the whole time.

Expert Reviewer

Tom Valente
Oregon Department of Agriculture

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