Insects and Spiders - native

Golden Buprestid Beetle (Buprestis aurulenta) on Jun 29, 2026

Originally reported as Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis)

Description of specimen

Submitter has sample

Beetle is 1.8 cm long and .6 cm wide. Iridescent throughout. Wing covers have central dark stripe.

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 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 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
June 29, 2026, 10 a.m.

Resources

Golden Buprestid Beetle information from iNaturalist

Location

I was working picking up (Douglas Fir) firewood on a hillside on my property when this green beetle landed on me. I caught it. I am on 6 acres, with about 1/3 in wetlands that have ash along one fence line. We can see Coyote Creek between Coyote Creek Rd and Territorial, from our house, so ash are in the area.
I have not seen any ash infestations, but I haven't looked.

Expert Reviewer

Avatar of Reviewer

Tom Valente
Oregon Department of Agriculture

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