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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.

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Dureli flathead borer Agrilus dureli Eastern Pine Borer Chalcophora liberta Elm Buprestid Anthaxia manca Elm Buprestid Lamprodila provosti Elm buprestid beetle Lamprodila nobilissima Elm buprestid beetle Agrilus convexicollis Emerald ash borer Agrilus planipennis Emerald Buprestid Lamprodila mirifica Euchroma Euchroma Fire buprestid Melanophila consputa Fire-bellied buprestid Chrysobothris igniventris Flathead borer Chrysobothris Flathead borer Sphenoptera Flatheaded appletree borer Chrysobothris femorata Flatheaded borer Chrysophana placida Flatheaded borer Coraebus Flatheaded cherry borer Dicerca divaricata Flatheaded pine borer Melanophila gentilis Fleischer's Buprestid Agrilus fleischeri Four-spotted jewel beetle Anthaxia quadripunctata Four-spotted metallic wood-boring beetle Chrysobothris quadriimpressa Giant jewel beetle Euchroma gigantea Gold-spotted oak borer Agrilus auroguttatus Golden buprestid Buprestis aurulenta Golden-necked buprestid Agrilus auricollis Grape buprestid beetle Agrilus derasofasciatus Green Agrilus Agrilus viridis Hartmann's buprestid Trachykele hartmanni Hazel buprestid Agrilus pseudocoryli Horn's Buprestid Agrilus horni Hungarian buprestid beetle Anthaxia hungarica Japanese pine sawyer Chalcophora japonica Jewel Beetle Chrysochroa Jewel beetle genus Lampetis Lampetis Kashmir Buprestid Capnodis kashmirensis Lampetis hirtomaculata Lampetis hirtomaculata Lampetis instabilis Lampetis instabilis Lamprodila buprestid Lamprodila Lamprodila vivata Lamprodila vivata Larch buprestid Melanophila guttulata Lime buprestid Lamprodila rutilans Metallic wood-boring beetle Chalcophora Mountain Buprestid Sphenoptera montana Narrow-headed buprestid Coraebus quadriundulatus Narrow-headed oak borer Agrilus quercicola Narrow-headed wood borer Agrilus dimidiatus Narrow-headed wood borer Coraebus elatus Narrow-headed wood borer Lamprodila virgata Oak buprestid Chrysobothris affinis Oak buprestid beetle Agrilus coxalis Oak splendour beetle Agrilus arcuatus Oak splendour beetle Agrilus angustulus Oak splendour beetle Agrilus sulcicollis Olive-black buprestid Agrilus olivaceoniger Ovalisia buprestid Ovalisia Pacific flathead borer Chrysobothris mali Peach flatheaded borer Capnodis parumstriata Peach flatheaded borer Capnodis tenebrionis Pear flat-headed borer Agrilus sinuatus Pear flat-headed borer Coraebus sinuatus

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.
These combined practices are essential for protecting high-value crops and maintaining the health of landscape plantings.