Bronze Birch Borer
Agrilus anxius
This record describes Agrilus anxius (species). Recorded family: Buprestidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The bronze birch borer Agrilus anxius is a wood-boring Buprestid beetle native to North America, more numerous in warmer parts of the continent and rare in the north. It is a serious pest on birch trees (Betula), frequently killing them. The river birch Betula nigra is the most resistant species, other American birches less so, while the European and Asian birches have no resistance to it at all and are effectively impossible to grow in the...
Wikipedia reference for Agrilus anxius: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agrilus anxius.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Buprestoidea
- Family
- Buprestidae (Metallic Wood-boring Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Agrilinae
- Tribe
- Agrilini
- Genus
- Agrilus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
most of Canada & the US south to AZ‒NM‒SC)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: on most birch species and cottonwoods
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Agrilus anxius Gory 1841
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Agrilus anxius. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Coleoptera is the largest order of insects with over 400,000 described species, representing ~25% of all known animal species and ~40% of all insects. In the U.S. alone, nearly 30,000 beetle species have been identified.
Ecological role of the group
Beetles are prominent decomposers, especially in forests, breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients. As predators, they reduce populations of pest insects. Many species are also important pollinators of flowering plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Beetles have major economic significance: leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) and weevils (Curculionoidea) are among the most destructive agricultural pests globally, costing billions annually, while predatory species like ladybugs provide natural pest control.
Recorded sources for this group: Britannica, Smithsonian, NCSU Entomology. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Bronze Birch Borer (6)
Photo credits: (c) David Beadle, all rights reserved, uploaded by David Beadle | (c) Jason Hill, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jason Hill | (c) Heather Holm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Heather Holm | (c) Pierrick Bloin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Pierrick Bloin | (c) Amanda Roe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Amanda Roe | Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , Graham M , v belov , Marci Hess
Frequently Asked Questions About Bronze Birch Borer
What is Bronze Birch Borer?
Bronze Birch Borer (Agrilus anxius) is a species in the family Buprestidae, within the order Coleoptera.
How big is Bronze Birch Borer?
5.5‒13.0 mm
Where is Bronze Birch Borer found?
Range: most of Canada & the US south to AZ‒NM‒SC)
What does Bronze Birch Borer eat?
The diet of the Bronze Birch Borer includes on most birch species and cottonwoods.