Coleoptera667 species

Family Metallic Wood-boring Beetles (Buprestidae)

Buprestidae is a family in the order Coleoptera. Browse 667 named species recorded in this family, or open an individual profile for its available identification and natural-history information.

Species in Buprestidae (667)

Red-necked Cane Borer

Agrilus ruficollis

Identification: Differentiated from similar-colored nearctic spp. by the following combination: Broad, deep concavity of the front of the head, distinctive projecting carina from the pygidium and nearly touching tarsal claws.

Agrilus salviaphilos

Type Locality: 3 mi S Moore, Frio Co., Texas (Manley, 1979)

Agrilus sapindi

Agrilus sapindi (Agrilus sapindi) is a species in the family Buprestidae, commonly known as metallic wood-boring beetles, belonging to the order Coleoptera (Beetles). It is classified within the subfamily Agrilinae, tribe Agrilini, suborder Polyphaga

Bayberry Agrilus

Agrilus sayi

Identification: both pronotum and head red (in A. ruficollis , pronotum only); not quite as black as A. ruficollis

Agrilus scitulus

Identification: Det. M. A. Quinn, 2021 Type Locality: Texas, probably Waco

Hawthorn Jewel Beetle

Agrilus sinuatus

Length 5 to 10 mm. This is a reddish-brown rather bronze-metallic looking species. Adults are active from mid-June to late September. The species is associated with Hawthorn, the larvae bore beneath the bark producing a snaky, zig-zag pattern. Previo

Agrilus smaragdifrons

BG images taken in NYC (Jun 2014) may represent the earliest North American record

Agrilus subcinctus

Identification: Det. E. G. Riley 2009 at high-moderate risk of endangerment due to the EAB ( 3 )

Agrilus subtropicus

Identification: a somewhat atypical Agrilus species in that it is one of the few species found in America north of Mexico that has the tips of the elytra prolonged. Texas considers this to be a SGCN Type Locality: Esperanza Ranch, Brownsville, Camero

European Oak Borer

Agrilus sulcicollis

Identification: Discriminating A. sulcicollis from A. cyanescens ( Zablotny yyyy? ) earliest NA record: ON 1995; earliest US record: MI 2003 ( Haack et al. 2010 )

Agrilus toxotes

Identification: The male pronotum is reddish. The female pronotum is blue. Sexual dimorphism, while common among Neotropical Agrilus , is rare among U.S. species (Ted C. MacRae, pers. comm. to MAQ)

Agrilus turnbowi

Type Locality: Ft. Sam Houston, San Antonio, Bexar Co., Texas ( 3 ) Two new species of Agrilus were recently described from Mexico. (Hespenheide 2008)

Agrilus ventralis

Identification: Elytra with subsutural vittae, ventrites 2&3 produced medially, antennae serrate from 4th antennomere. rarely collected Type Locality: New Mexico, no precise region known.

Agrilus viridescens

Agrilus viridescens (Agrilus viridescens) is a species in the family Buprestidae, commonly known as metallic wood-boring beetles, belonging to the order Coleoptera (Beetles). It is classified within the subfamily Agrilinae, tribe Agrilini, suborder P

Agrilus walsinghami

Agrilus walsinghami (Agrilus walsinghami) is a species in the family Buprestidae, commonly known as metallic wood-boring beetles, belonging to the order Coleoptera (Beetles). It is classified within the subfamily Agrilinae, tribe Agrilini, suborder P

Anambodera palmarum

Anambodera palmarum (Anambodera palmarum) is a species in the family Buprestidae, commonly known as metallic wood-boring beetles, belonging to the order Coleoptera (Beetles). It is classified within the subfamily Polycestinae, tribe Acmaeoderini, sub

Anthaxia carya

Anthaxia carya is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in North America.

Anthaxia quercicola

Type Locality: TX: Brazos Co., near College Station, Easterwood Airport

Aphanisticus cochinchinae

Aphanisticus cochinchinae is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in Southern Asia.

Aphanisticus congener

Identification: Robust. No serration on elytral apices. Frons with two circular pits in center just above the antennal insertions clearly separated.

Northern Red Oak Jewel Beetle

Brachys aerosus

Brachys aerosus is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in North America.

Brachys ovatus

Identification: Larger than some other commonly found members of this genus ( aerosus, aeruginosus ). Last abdominal sternite emarginate and fimbriate in female, rounded and not pubescent in male. Dorsally, the white-margined band of bronze pubescenc

Brachys wellsoi

Type Locality: Texas: Ft. Bend Co., Brazos Bend St. Pk., 10.04.1999, E. G. Riley-770, sweep coastal prairie (TAMU-ENTO X0544867).

Buprestis confluenta

Thomas Say, American Entomology: "A specimen was presented to me, when at Fort Osage, on the Missouri river, by Lieut. Scott, of the Rifle regiment, a gentleman, whose extraordinary skill as a marksman, has almost passed into a proverb, in that count

Buprestis consularis

This is quite confusing since B. consularis is usually treated as a synonym of B. nutalli (since Helfer 1941) in most of the popular literature (including the list by Poole & Gentilli, the volume on Canadian Buprestids by Bright, and finally Downie a

Buprestis fremontiae

Identification: When alive the color is ivory with orange elytral apices and purple metallic highlights on the dark areas.

Lined Buprestis

Buprestis lineata

Buprestis lineata, the lined buprestris, is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in the Caribbean and North America.

Buprestis parmaculativentris

Buprestis parmaculativentris is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in North America.

Wrinkled-neck Buprestid Beetle

Buprestis sulcicollis

Buprestis sulcicollis is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in North America.

Northeastern Sculptured Pine Borer

Chalcophora liberta

Identification: from brilliant metallic coppery orange to dull black; extremely variable in size, dorsal sculpturing, and density of ventral setae; readily distinguished by truncate or rounded elytral apices, small size, and usually bright metallic,

Chrysobothris adelpha

Identification: can be distinguished from C. femorata by the acutely notched clypeus, male genitalia, and male antenna narrowed to apex (J.P. Basham, 24.vi.2006)

Chrysobothris axillaris

Identification: Type specimen Easily confused with Ch. acaciae (pronotum bicolored) and C . humilis (profemur unarmed) males

Chrysobothris basalis

Chrysobothris basalis is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in Central America and North America.

Chrysobothris beameri

Type Locality: Big Bend National Park, Brewster Co., TX

Chrysobothris breviloba

Chrysobothris breviloba is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in North America.

Chrysobothris convexa

Two major taxonomic characters...together serve to distinguish C. convexa from all other known species of Chrysobothris from the United States. First the clypeus is strongly elevated basally...giving the clypeus a deflexed appearance...The second cha

Chrysobothris culbersoniana

Identification: From Knull: This species should be placed near C. deleta Lec. according to Fisher's arrangement of the genus. Lack of pubescence on elytra and prosternal lobe separate it from the closely allied forms , though see the comments from co

Chrysobothris cyanella

Chrysobothris cyanella is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in North America.

Chrysobothris edwardsii

Chrysobothris edwardsii is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in Central America and North America.

Chrysobothris ephedrae

Chrysobothris ephedrae ephedrae Knull - TL: Las Cruces, NM (Knull 1942) Chrysobothris ephedrae vogti Knull - TL: 5 mi. W. Sullivan City, Starr Co., TX (Knull 1964)

Flatheaded Appletree Borer

Chrysobothris femorata

Identification: antennae yellowish-green and become reddish toward the apex; clypeus more rounded than in C. adelpha (J.P. Basham, 24.vi.2006) elytral apices distinctly cupreous, posteriolateral margins of the elytra more abruptly narrowed than in re

Chrysobothris gemmata

Chrysobothris gemmata is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in Central America and North America.

Chrysobothris humilis

Identification: Rick Westcott says it is likely the male of Ch. humilis . This species exhibits one of the more extreme examples of sexual dichroism found in the Buprestidae . Males (black with red humeral patches) mimic models of the beetle subfamil

Chrysobothris lixa

Identification: Body subcylindrical, elytra distinctly setoes, pronotum without median depression, and profemur toothed.

Chrysobothris lucana

Chrysobothris lucana (Chrysobothris lucana) is a species in the family Buprestidae, commonly known as metallic wood-boring beetles, belonging to the order Coleoptera (Beetles). It is classified within the subfamily Buprestinae, tribe Chrysobothrini,

Chrysobothris mescalero

Identification: PARATYPE Type Locality: Hwy 385 rest stop, 28 mi S Ft. Stockton, Pecos Co., TX

Flatheaded Cedar Borer

Chrysobothris nixa

Chrysobothris nixa, the flatheaded cedar borer, is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in North America.

Chrysobothris peninsularis

Chrysobothris peninsularis is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in Central America and North America.

Chrysobothris pubilineata

Identification: PARATYPE - Starr Co., TX recap: described from 3 spmns coll'ed in 1947 in Starr Co., Texas. (Vogt 1949a) one additional spmn coll'ed in 1965 in Hidalgo Co., New Mexico.

Chrysobothris purpureoplagiata

Identification: Note reddish-copper color on the forelegs. (per Richard L. Westcott, 23 September, 2013) Type Locality: Florence, Pinal Co., AZ

Chrysobothris pusilla

Chrysobothris pusilla is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in North America.

Chrysobothris quadriimpressa

Identification: usually smaller than C. femorata , with male frons lighter green a common oak inhabiting species

Chrysobothris rotundicollis

Chrysobothris rotundicollis is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in North America.

Chrysobothris rugosiceps

Identification: Last antennomere quadrate (narrowed in the rest of the Ch. femorata complex) ; males often have yellow below and females more reddish with less yellow (J.P. Basham, 7.xi.2009)

Chrysobothris subcylindrica

Chrysobothris subcylindrica (Chrysobothris subcylindrica) is a species in the family Buprestidae, commonly known as metallic wood-boring beetles, belonging to the order Coleoptera (Beetles). It is classified within the subfamily Buprestinae, tribe Ch

Chrysobothris verdigripennis

Chrysobothris verdigripennis is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in North America.

Dicerca caudata

Identification: pronotum with lateral margins widest at base, subparallel to middle, then narrowly converging to the anterior angles; body moderately convex, usually cupreous above and more strongly below and on the elytral tips that are entire or tr

Dicerca crassicollis

Dicerca crassicollis is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in North America.

Flatheaded Hardwood Borer

Dicerca divaricata

Identification: bright aeneous to dark cupreous with a greenish tint above and below; pronotum widest in the middle, with lateral margins subparallel at base, gently expanding in the middle, then narrowly converging to anterior angles; elytral striae

Embossed Hawthorn Buprestid

Dicerca lepida

Dicerca lepida, the embossed hawthorn buprestid, is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in North America and varies in size between 13.5 and 17.5 millimetres (0.53 and 0.69 in).

Dicerca mutica

Identification: Most closely resembles D. lurida and related species, but can be separated by the elytral apices being entire, produced slightly at suture, and by having the prosternal process convex (♂) to flat (♀) rather than concave.

Witch-hazel Borer

Dicerca pugionata

Identification: pronotum widest posteriorly; elytra very dark or black with pale whitish spots arranged in several longitudinal rows; tip of elytra bidentate (i.e. with two teeth) - not rounded or truncate [a useful characteristic]

Dicerca spreta

Dicerca spreta is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is endemic to the eastern United States.

Gyascutus carolinensis

Gyascutus carolinensis is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in Central America and North America.

Hesperorhipis albofasciata

Hesperorhipis albofasciata is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in North America.

Juniper Metallic Wood-boring Beetle

Juniperella mirabilis

Juniperella mirabilis is a species of beetle in the family Buprestidae, the only species in the genus Juniperella.

Knowltonia atrifasciata

Identification: Dets. S. G. Wellso (one by dissection)

Lampetis webbii

Identification: Det. J. Basham, 2013 Type Locality: Ures, Sonora, Mexico

Leiopleura otero

Leiopleura otero is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in the Caribbean Sea and North America.

Mastogenius crenulatus

Mastogenius crenulatus (Mastogenius crenulatus) is a species in the family Buprestidae, commonly known as metallic wood-boring beetles, belonging to the order Coleoptera (Beetles). It is classified within the subfamily Polycestinae, tribe Haplostethi

Mastogenius robustus

Identification: Form of subcyaneus but larger more robust and surface less shining, dark aeneous. (Schaeffer 1905) Posterior boarder of hind coxal plates broadly arcuate internally, third joint of antennae distinctly shorter than the fourth, hut much

Mastogenius subcyaneus

Mastogenius subcyaneus (Mastogenius subcyaneus) is a species in the family Buprestidae, commonly known as metallic wood-boring beetles, belonging to the order Coleoptera (Beetles). It is classified within the subfamily Polycestinae, tribe Haplostethi

Melanophila atropurpurea

Identification: From the original description of Say 1823 : "Black, slightly tinged with bronze or purplish ; elytra serrate and mucronate. Inhabits Arkansas. Body punctured : antennae black : labrum piceous: thorax with elevated obtuse punctures and

Melanophila notata

Melanophila notata is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in the Caribbean Sea, Central America, and North America.

Nanularia obrienorum

Adults are frequently found on Eriogonum in the late afternoon to evening (5-7 pm) in desert like habitat. Type locality: CA, Kern Co., McKittrick

Pachyschelus fisheri

Identification: "This is a distinct buprestid beetle, not likely to be confused with similar species. ... The body is flattened and broadly wedge-shaped. The head and pronotum are copper-colored, the later with a narrow vague band of pubescence on ea

Pachyschelus laevigatus

Identification: All black (a trait shared with P. confusus )

Pachyschelus purpureus

Identification: Elytra bright blue in the nominate ssp., reddish-purple in P. p. uvaldei , with patches of condensed setae

Paragrilus tenuis

Paragrilus tenuis is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in North America.

Paratyndaris crandalli

Paratyndaris crandalli is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in North America.

Paratyndaris prosopis

Type Locality listed as "TX, Austin" , but note that the type was actually collected by Schwarz who collected extensively in Austin County, Texas and is not known to have collected in the City of Austin...

Phaenops aeneola

Phaenops aeneola is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in North America.

flatheaded fir borer

Phaenops drummondi

Identification: Highly variable; elytra with various sizes/patterns of yellow maculation, or they may be immaculate. Type locality: Rocky Mtns.; of nicolayi NH

Hemlock Borer

Phaenops fulvoguttata

Pristaulacus rufitarsis and P. bilobatus are wasps in the Evaniidae family that parasites this beetle. Pristaulacus rufitarsis

Phaenops lecontei

Phaenops lecontei is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in North America.

Poecilonota montana

Poecilonota montana is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in North America.

Polycesta arizonica

Identification: rather feebly shining, black with a reddish green luster, elytra with alternate interstrial spaces costate, apices widened internally Det. C. L. Bellamy, 2001 Type Locality: Palmerlee, Cochise Co., Arizona

Polycesta (Arizonica) aruensis

Polycesta aruensis

Identification: [= velasco ] - alternate interstrial spaces of the elytra costate, sutural margins of the elytra widened at the apices and exhibiting a very distinctive reddish green luster. Det. S. G. Wellso

Polycesta crypta

Identification: It can be separated from P. cyanea on the shape of the lateral margins of the pronotum. When Barr looked at the black Polycestas from California he found yet another species hiding among the specimens of P. cyanea , hence he named it

Polycesta cyanea

Identification: This species is black without blue highlights. Unfortunately When Chamberlin described the species he had two species in the type series. The Holotype male was P. cyanea and the allotype female was P. tularensis . He used the blue hig

Polycesta elata

Identification: Prothorax with three large excavations; elytra strongly costate. Front deeply concave. Elytra moderately clathrate; interstices (except the smooth coste) densely punctured Det. C. L. Bellamy, 2001 one of the largest and better known U

Polycesta tularensis

Identification: beautiful with its dark inky blue highlights. - Dennis Haines comment larvae hosts in Quercus douglasii and Fremontodendron californicum in Tulare Co., CA.

Prasinalia cuneata

Prasinalia cuneata is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in Central America and North America.

Spectralia gracilipes

Spectralia gracilipes is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in North America.

Spectralia prosternalis

Identification: Det. D. J. Heffern, 2010 S. prosternalis is rarer than S. robusta , but has a smoother pronotum. Both have been reared from persimmon. Type Locality: Esperanza Ranch, Brownsville, Cameron Co., Texas Texas considers this a "Species of

Spectralia roburella

Spectralia roburella is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in North America.

Spectralia robusta

Chamberlin was the first to collect "a fine series of this species ... near Del Rio, Texas on Diospyros texana Scheele." Per MacRae : This species has been encountered primarily around the Pecos and Devils Rivers west of Del Rio, Texas (Knull 1937, N

Sphenoptera jugoslavica

Identification: images of diff. stages Introduced from Greece to fight knapweed; first released in 1980.

Taphrocerus albodistinctus

Identification: Det. S. G. Wellso Type Locality: Lake City, FL

Taphrocerus chevrolati

Taphrocerus chevrolati is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in North America.