metallic wood-boring beetles

(Agrilus spp.)

Overview
metallic wood-boring beetle (Agrilus sp.)

Photo by Alfredo Colon

 

Agrilus is a very large, exceptionally diverse genus of beetles known as metallic wood-boring beetles or jewel beetles. There almost 3,000 currently recognized species in about 40 subgenera worldwide, more than any other genus in the animal kingdom. There are 174 species in 2 subgenera North America north of Mexico, and at least 31 species in Minnesota. They occur on every continent except Greenland and Antarctica.

     
 

They are found on hardwood broad-leaved plants. Larvae are wood borers. They create tunnels beneath the bark and are rarely seen. Adults feed on the leaves of the same species that host the larvae.

The most well known member is the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis), which is responsible for the deaths of tens of millions of ash trees in North America. The most destructive member is the two-lined chestnut borer (Agrilus bilineatus). It attacks oaks, beech, ironwood, and chestnut trees.

 
     
 
Description
 
 

Agrilus adults are to 916 (3.0 to 14.5 mm) long. The body is rigid, bullet-shaped, narrow, and long. The upper (dorsal) side is frequently metallic and usually shiny. The under (ventral) side is nearly always iridescent. Some species have yellow or yellowish spots, one species has yellow stripes. The forewings (elytra) have nearly parallel sides and often taper to a point at the rear. The antennae are short and sawtoothed. They have 11 segments. The last part of the leg (tarsus), corresponding to the foot, has 5 segments.

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

24, 27, 29, 30, 82.

 
  11/12/2020      
         
 
Taxonomy
 
 

Order

Coleoptera (beetles)  
 

Suborder

Polyphaga (water, rove, scarab, long-horned, leaf, and snout beetles)  
 

Infraorder

Elateriformia  
 

Superfamily

Buprestoidea (metallic wood boring and false jewel beetles)  
 

Family

Buprestidae (jewel beetles)  
 

Subfamily

Agrilinae  
 

Tribe

Agrilini  
  Subtribe Agrilina  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

alder borer (Agrilus pensus)

beech borer (Agrilus obsoletoguttatus)

blue-headed borer (Agrilus crinicornis)

bluish borer (Agrilus cyanescens)

bowed borer (Agrilus arcuatus)

bronze birch borer (Agrilus anxius)

bronze borer (Agrilus putillus)

bronze poplar borer (Agrilus liragus)

butternut agrilus (Agrilus junglandis)

dogwood agrilus (Agrilus cephalicus)

emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis)

encircled borer (Agrilus subcinctus)

Frost’s borer (Agrilus frosti)

granulate poplar borer (Agrilus granulatus)

hackberry borer (Agrilus celti)

hawthorn agrilus (Agrilus cratagei)

hawthorn root borer (Agrilus vittaticollis)

hickory agrilus (Agrilus otiosus)

lacking borer (Agrilus egenus)

maple agrilus (Agrilus masculinus)

metallic wood-boring beetle (Agrilus paraimpexus)

metallic wood-boring beetle (Agrilus quadriguttatus)

metallic wood-boring beetle (Agrilus transimpressus)

Osburn’s borer (Agrilus osburni)

peacegul borer (Agrilus imbellis)

red-necked cane borer (Agrilus ruficollis)

rose stem girdler (Agrilus cuprescens)

small borer (Agrilus parvus)

spotworm borer (Agrilus acutipennis)

twinned borer (Agrilus geminatus)

two-lined chestnut borer (Agrilus bilineatus)

willow gall limb borer (Agrilus politus)

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Paradomorphus

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

This genus has no common name. The common name of the family Buprestidae is metallic wood-boring beetles, and it is applied here for convenience.

 
       

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Elytra

The hardened or leathery forewings of beetles used to protect the fragile hindwings, which are used for flying. Singular: elytron.

 

Tarsus

On insects, the last two to five subdivisions of the leg, attached to the tibia; the foot. On spiders, the last segment of the leg. Plural: tarsi.

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
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Alfredo Colon

 
    metallic wood-boring beetle (Agrilus sp.)   metallic wood-boring beetle (Agrilus sp.)  
           
 
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Other Videos
 
  Identifying: Jewel Beetles (Agrilus)
James McCulloch
 
   
 
About

Jul 3, 2020

I detail the identification process for a jewel beetle in the family Buprestidae.

Mike's Insect Keys to Buprestidae: https://sites.google.com/site/mikesin...

Royal Entomological Society Handbook: https://www.royensoc.co.uk/sites/default/files/Vol05_Part01b.pdf

My Twitter: @My_Wild_Life

Many thanks to Josie Hewitt for the use of three of her Agrilus laticornis photos.

 
       

 

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  Alfredo Colon
8/5/2019

Location: Woodbury, MN

metallic wood-boring beetle (Agrilus sp.)  
           
 
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Created: 11/12/2020

Last Updated:

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