Subject: Large egg-laying beetle on fallen tree
Geographic location of the bug: Pollock Pines, California
Date: 06/20/2018
Time: 07:49 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman: Bugman, I spotted this large-ish beetle on a fallen tree, sticking its ovipositor in crevices in the wood. What is this bug?
How you want your letter signed: John
Dear John,
This is a Metallic Borer Beetle or Jewel Beetle in the family Buprestidae, but we are not having any luck determining a species for you. Do you know what type of tree you sighted it upon?
Hi, Daniel.
Sorry, I wouldn’t have known the tree type but I do have footage of the beetle probing about the wood.Metallic Borer or Jewel beetle – are they bad?
I ask because this photo was taken at a lake where hundreds of dead trees have been cut down apparently due to a beetle invasion
Thanks all the same.
John
Daniel,
I looked about for the beetle responsible for tree deaths at the local lake. It’s a bark beetle.
Although the beetle’s destruction of trees may not be a terrible thing?
Hello again John,
You are correct. The Bark Beetles are responsible for the tree die-off. Jewel Beetles have larvae that bore in wood, but they are rarely numerous enough to create a problem.
You are correct. The Bark Beetles are responsible for the tree die-off. Jewel Beetles have larvae that bore in wood, but they are rarely numerous enough to create a problem.
It looks a lot like Buprestis (Buprestis) consularis, but may be not on its range?
https://bugguide.net/node/view/349829
Thanks much Cesar.
It looks a lot like Buprestis (Buprestis) consularis, but may be not on its range?
https://bugguide.net/node/view/349829