Insects and Spiders - native

Western Cedar Borer (Trachykele blondeli) on May 11, 2025

Submitter does not have a specimen

Description of specimen

Looks similar to Emerald Ash Borer but head shape and abdomen color don’t seem to match. I don’t know bugs tho.

Commentary

Thank you for your report! No, not EAB although just as brilliantly colored. 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 ODF EAB webpage with some photos of other Oregon insects that could be mistaken for EAB

https://oregon-eab-geo.hub.arcgis.com/pages/identify

Thanks for being on the lookout!

Tom Valente
May 12, 2025, 7:19 a.m.