Metallic Wood-Boring Beetle

Description:

Beetles represent the largest Order of insects, containing over 250,000 described species. Beetle groups include tiger beetles, ground beetles, water beetles, whirligig beetles, fungus beetles, rove beetles, stag beetles, scarab beetles, wood-boring beetles, click beetles, fireflies, dermestids, ladybird beetles, darkling beetles, longhorn beetles, blister beetles, leaf beetles, weevils and many others.

Habitat:

Conifer forests with injured or dying trees and around logging operations and saw mills. These beetles are found through the Pacific Northwest, from southern B.C. southward through the Rocky mountains to Mexico. A few specimens have been taken in Manitoba.

Notes:

identification: This species is easily recognised from all other Alberta species of Buprestis, by the presence of 5 elytral costae, brilliant blue to green colour with cupreous margins of the elytra. Similar species are B. sulcicollis (LeConte) and B. striata (Fabr.). Adults range in size from 13 to 22 mm. life history: Adults are readily attracted to injured trees, fresh stumps, and blow down. They have even been observed on fresh sawn lumber. These beetles are considered pests in much of their range. Adults may lay eggs in cracks near injuries, cut edges of lumber etc. The larvae hatch, then mine under the bark or through the wood, causing mechanical injury and defects especially in Douglas Fir and Ponderosa Pine. Damage consists of mines and exit holes in the wood. Typically the larvae and emerge as adults in 2 to 4 years from the wood. Under conditions of stress the cycle may be prolonged to well over 40 years. There are many documented cases of beetles emerging from within buildings from a wide variety of locations, including hand rails, doors, kitchen shelving, baseboards and various structural timbers. Beetles have shown up in Europe, emerging from lumber and shipping crates. conservation: Considered a pest in much of its range. Rare in Alberta. diet info: Known to bred in a wide variety of Pines, including limber and lodgepole, Douglas Fir, grand fir, and western red cedar.