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Category Archives: Metallic Borer Beetles   rss

Flat-Head Borer

Larva state, boring into birch and other trees, not termite!
March 25, 2010
Recently I’ve been tracking penetrations of various trees within our yard. These penetrations have been through scars or lower elevation entry.
Recently I removed another section of birch of what was originally a 4-cluster tree, and now only 2-remain.
The holes are much larger than any termite hole. Once the tree was dissected, I came upon a large headed-to-body ratio larva, whitish in color, some-what segmented. approx lenght 1.” to 1.25″
At a loss and trees are not cheap??
erick at www.ameriturfsystems.com
Back yard tree larva
So-California, inland 20-miles

buprestid larva erick 300x248 Flat Head Borer

Flat-Head Borer Larva

Hi erick,
This is the larva of a Metallic Wood Boring Beetle, known as a Flat-Head Borer, in the family Buprestidae.  See BugGuide for more.  Some adults are lovely beetles with bright coloration that are called Jewel Beetles.  Sorry we cannot be more specific as to the species.

buprestid larva erick 2 300x199 Flat Head Borer

Flat-Head Borer Larva

Posted 26 March 2010 § Grubs ‡ Comments (0) °
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Jewel Beetle from Australia: possibly Castiarina species

Unknown Insects
February 15, 2010
Please can you help me identify these insects, found in the garden during the summer months.
Chris Moran
Perth, WA, Australia

jewel beetle castiarna australia chris 300x196 Jewel Beetle from Australia: possibly Castiarina species

Jewel Beetle: Castiarina species???

Hi Chris,
Submitting multiple images of unrelated insects negatively compromises our method for archiving letters, so we are not posting all of your images in the same response.  This is a Jewel Beetle or Metallic Borer Beetle in the family Buprestidae, and we believe it is in the genus Castiarina based on an image of Castiarina decemmaculata posted on the Brisbane Insect website.  Your specimen looks very similar, but it doesn’t seem to be an exact match.  The Virtual Beetles website has numerous similar examples from the genus Castiarina, but we are not skilled enough to provide a definitive identification based on your photograph.  The Buprestidae of Australia website contains a thumbnail image of Castiarina malleeana that also is a possibility, but an image posted on Outdoor Webshots shows the spots converging, which may be an individual variation.  The red coloration on the spots of your specimen seem to be a distinction that might help to properly identify this species.

Posted 15 February 2010 § ‡ Comments (1) ° Tagged:

Flatheaded Borer Larva: Jewel Beetle, possibly Red Legged Buprestis

worm or grub?
January 4, 2010
This bug was found while cutting down an oak tree in Pasco County in Florida. The cicle is the head and sections I guess the tail. From the photo it looks like it may have a stinger of sorts, but I was assured it did not. Any ideas?
Shaune
Pasco County, Fl.

flatheaded borer larva shaune Flatheaded Borer Larva: Jewel Beetle, possibly Red Legged Buprestis
Flatheaded Borer Larva

Dear Shaune,
The larva in your photo is a Flatheaded Borer in the family Buprestidae, known as the Metallic Wood Borers or Jewel Beetles.  We were uncertain of the species so we tried to search BugGuide for members of the family that bore in oaks, and we found your photo posted there, though there was no conclusive species identification.  We continued to search the web for potential species and on the Texas Beetle Information website, we found that the Red Legged Buprestis, Buprestis rufipes, bores in oaks.  According to BugGuide, it is found in Florida, so that might be your species, though BugGuide lists maple and birch as the host plants.  The positive identification of larvae is quite difficult.

Posted 05 January 2010 § Grubs ‡ Comments (1) ° Tagged:
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Flat Headed Borer Larva: Hippomelas sphenicus maybe

Mesquite Larvae
December 1, 2009
Found inside an aged mesquite log in Scottsdale, AZ. What is it? What will it turn into and in how long? Pest? Affects other wood, or just mesquite? If pest, natural predators?
Sergio Vie
Scottsdale, AZ

flathead borer mesquite sergio 300x198 Flat Headed Borer Larva: Hippomelas sphenicus maybe

Flat Headed Borer Larva

Hi Sergio,
This is a Flat Headed Borer Beetle Larva in the family Buprestidae, often called the Metallic Borer Beetles or Jewel Beetles.  We believe, based on your location and the host plant, that it is Hippomelas sphenicus.  We are providing a link to BugGuide with an image of the adult beetle.  It is also pictured on the Sonoran Desert Naturalist website.

Posted 03 December 2009 § Grubs ‡ Comments (0) °

Jewel Beetle from Texas is Drummond’s Blue Footed Bup

Colorful Beetle
November 24, 2009
Spotted this super colorful beetle and I have no idea what it is after looking for more info. Help!
Stingrey
Big Bend National Park

buprestid texas stingrey 236x300 Jewel Beetle from Texas is Drummonds Blue Footed Bup

Unknown Jewel Beetle

Hi again Stingrey,
This beauty is a Metallic Wood Boring Beetle or Jewel Beetle in the family Buprestidae, but we haven’t the time to scour BugGuide for an exact identification at the moment.  We will contact Eric Eaton for assistance, and perhaps one of our readers will also know the answer.

Immediate Update:
We gave it a shot, and quickly found Drummond’s Blue Footed Bup, Lampetis drummondi, on BugGuide.

Posted 25 November 2009 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Southern Sculptured Pine Borer

Black and White Beetle
November 4, 2009
I have been trying to identify this beetle. It is black and white (off white/beige), with 6 legs and 2 black antennae. It has wings, although I havent seen it attempt to fly. It also has a bronze metallic sheen to its underbelly. Any Ideas?
Thanks- Robin
Deland, Florida

southern sculptured pine borer robin 300x278 Southern Sculptured Pine Borer

Southern Sculptured Pine Borer

Hi Robin,
Your lovely beetle is a Southern Sculptured Pine Borer, Chalcophora georgiana.  You can see images on BugGuide for comparison.  It might also be a Sculptured Pine Borer, Chalcophora virginiensis, which is also pictured on BugGuide.

Posted 05 November 2009 § ‡ Comments (1) °

Jewel Beetle from India: genus Sternocera

Is it a jewel beetle
October 9, 2009
The Beetle Picture i took from SNGP Forest Area. First time i am saw the
beautiful insect. Pl. let me me know the id ?
Hari Iyer
Yeeor, Thane, Maharashtra, India.

jewel beetle india 184x300 Jewel Beetle from India: genus Sternocera

Jewel Beetle from India

Hi Hari Iyer,
Yes, this is a Jewel Beetle, one of the common names for a Metallic Wood Boring Beetle in the family Buprestidae.  We will see if one of our readers is able to find the exact species name for you.

Ed Note: Thanks to Karl for providing a comment identifying the genus as Sternocera, and providing several links with confirmation imagery.

Posted 11 October 2009 § ‡ Comments (2) °

Jewel Beetle from Hawaii, but what species???

Is this a Jewel Beetle?
August 25, 2009
Hi there,
This little guy flew into my house. I took him back out after admiring him a bit but the very next day, there he was again, clinging to the post I hang my purse on. He’s beautiful but I don’t want him to die in here, I’ve put a variety of leaves out for him since he just plain refuses to leave. Is he a Jewel Beetle? Thanks for your help.
Amy
Kaneohe, Hawaii

jewel beelte hawaii amy 300x180 Jewel Beetle from Hawaii, but what species???

Jewel Beetle

Hi Amy,
Yes, this is a Jewel Beetle in the family Buprestidae, but we are uncertain of the species. Since it is an island habitat, Hawaii is one of those places where invasive exotic species can displace endemic endangered species, and we are curious to find out what species you have submitted.  Sadly, since we must leave for work, we haven’t the time to research right now. Judging by her ovipositor, your specimen is a female.

Update: February 16, 2011
Thanks to a comment from wildabug, our incorrectly sexed beetle has been identified as being in the genus Strigoptera and we located a photo here.

Posted 25 August 2009 § ‡ Comments (1) °

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