Jewel beetles
Jewel beetles (family Buprestidae) are a large group of beetles belonging to the order Coleoptera. Named for their iridescent metallic colors, they are significant pests in both forestry and horticulture. There are thousands of species within this family, many of which are specialized wood-borers that can cause severe economic damage to healthy and stressed trees alike.
What the section contains
Perotis lugubris
Perotis lugubris
Pine buprestid
Phaenops
Pine buprestid beetle
Chrysobothris tranquebarica
Plum buprestid
Sphenoptera neglecta
Poplar buprestid beetle
Agrilus liragus
Poplar buprestid beetle
Capnodis miliaris
Ptosima
Ptosima
Raspberry buprestid beetle
Coraebus rubi
Red palm weevil
Palmar
Red-bellied buprestid
Buprestis haemorrhoidalis
Red-necked cane borer
Agrilus ruficollis
Rose buprestid
Agrilus integerrimus
Rose stem girdler
Agrilus aurichalceus
Sculptured pine borer
Buprestis apricans
Sculptured pine borer
Buprestis rustica
Sculptured pine borer
Chalcophora angulicollis
Sculptured pine borer
Chalcophora virginiensis
Sculptured pine borer
Dicerca lurida
Sculptured Pine Borer
Chrysobothris rugosiceps
Six-spotted buprestid
Chrysobothris sexsignata
Solier's buprestid
Chrysobothris solieri
Splendid buprestid
Melanophila picta
Spotted aspen borer
Poecilonota variolosa
Spotted pine borer
Melanophila fulvoguttata
Spruce buprestid
Melanophila cuspidata
St. John's wort flathead borer
Agrilus hyperici
Steraspis buprestid beetle
Steraspis
Striped stem borer
Sphenoptera lineata
Texania
Texania
Texania campestris
Texania campestris
Trachykele metallic wood-boring beetle
Trachykele
Trachys
Trachys
Trachys aeneus
Trachys aeneus
Two-colored jewel beetle
Chrysochroa bicolor
Two-lined chestnut borer
Agrilus bilineatus
Two-spotted oak buprestid
Agrilus biguttatus
Willow flat-headed borer
Agrilus cephalicus
Willow Flat-headed Borer
Agrilus politus
Yellow-spotted buprestid
Ptosima flavoguttata
Jewel beetles
These pests target a diverse range of host plants, including orchard fruit trees, ornamental shrubs, and hardwood timber trees. They are particularly attracted to weakened or injured trees, but some species are aggressive enough to attack and kill healthy specimens by girdling the vascular system through their feeding activities.
The biology of jewel beetles is characterized by a long larval stage hidden within the host tree. Adult females deposit eggs into bark crevices. Once hatched, the larvae bore into the phloem and xylem layers. Their life cycle can span one to several years depending on the species, which makes tracking and identifying infestations complex.
The damage caused by Buprestidae is primarily due to larvae feeding, which creates irregular galleries beneath the bark. This disrupts the tree's internal nutrient and water transport. Common symptoms of an infestation include leaf yellowing, branch dieback, crown thinning, and the presence of D-shaped exit holes on the trunk surface.
Management strategies focus on sanitation and preventative care. Key measures include:
- Regular inspection of trees for signs of exit holes.
- Pruning and removing infested branches to reduce population density.
- Maintaining tree vigor through proper irrigation and fertilization.
- Applying systemic or contact insecticides during the adult emergence phase.