Insects and Spiders - native

Golden Buprestid Beetle (Buprestis aurulenta) on Jun 10, 2024

Originally reported as Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis)

Submitter does not have a specimen

Description of specimen

We have know about EAB due to owning a Tree Farm. So it seemed suspect when found. And didn’t appear to be a look-a-like.

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!

Tom Valente
June 11, 2024, 1:10 a.m.

Resources

Golden Buprestid Beetle information from iNaturalist

Location

On the back on my neck. So unsure when it arrived / was discovered.

Expert Reviewer

Tom Valente
Oregon Department of Agriculture

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