Insects and Spiders - native

Western Cedar Borer (Trachykele blondeli) on Jul 14, 2025

Originally reported as Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis)

Submitter does not have a specimen

Description of specimen

Saw this sparkly green bug on a car in the Market of Choice parking lot on 6-27-25. It was so pretty I took a picture. UGH!

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 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
July 15, 2025, 3:51 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

On a car in the Market of Choice parking lot

Expert Reviewer

Tom Valente
Oregon Department of Agriculture

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