Insects and Spiders - native

Western Cedar Borer (Trachykele blondeli) on May 12, 2026

Originally reported as Jewel Beetles, species unknown (Buprestis spp.)

Submitter does not have a specimen

Description of specimen

Similar to an ash borer, but with somewhat fuller body; completely iridescent-green both back and underside with several dark spots (I think 6; 3 on each side) vertically aligned down each of the wing covers. I'm guessing approximately 3/4 -1" long. Very beautiful, slow moving; maybe just cold. Definitely a wood borer of some kind.
See attached png file.

Commentary

Avatar of commenter 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. Their main host is Western red cedar.

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, 2026, 3:14 p.m.

Resources

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

Location

My camera identified the insect as a wood-boring Jewel Bug. In all my years in Oregon, I've never seen one of these. I think it fell off of a 1-gal size nandina Gulf Stream shrub I recently purchased from Little Red Farm Nursery in Springfield, Oregon. I have not yet planted the shrub as of 5/12/2026. Insect was found on my concrete deck back porch very close to the nandina pot.

Expert Reviewer

Avatar of Reviewer

Tom Valente
Oregon Department of Agriculture

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