oak splendour beetle
(Agrilus biguttatus (Fabricius, 1776))

This species is Exotic across its range in the United States

States Counties Points List Species Info
Oak splendor beetle is native to Asia. It has not been found in North America. Like other metallic wood-boring beetles, including emerald ash borer, they are strong fliers which are able to fly several miles insearch of a suitable host. They are readily moved in wood products such as firewood or other materials with attached bark. Oak is the primary host, but chestnut and beech are also susceptible. This beetle may have one generation a year in warm climates, but a two-year cycle is more common. Adult females feed on oak foliage before depositing clusters of 5-6 eggs in bark crevasses. The south side of large oaks (diameter at breast height of 11-15 inches) is preferred. Larvae feed inthe cambium creating frass-filled, ‘zig-zag’ galleries. Mature larvae are creamy white, legless grubs around 1-1 3/4 inches in length. The first thoracic segment is wider than the other body segments. Two hornlike projections (urogomphi) are found on the last abdominal segment. Pupation occurs in the bark. The insect overwinters in both the larval and pupal stages. In May to June, adults emerge leaving D-shaped exit holes. Adults are attractive, metallic green, slender insects about1/3 to 1/2 of an inch in length. The posterior third of the wing covers have two distinct white marks on their interior edge. Damage typically results in dieback, development of epicormic branches, thincrown, and tree mortality.

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Taxonomic Rank

Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Subclass: Pterygota
Infraclass: Neoptera
Order: Coleoptera Linnaeus, 1758
Suborder: Polyphaga
Infraorder: Elateriformia Crowson, 1960
Superfamily: Buprestoidea Leach, 1815
Family: Buprestidae Leach, 1815
Subfamily: Agrilinae Laporte, 1835
Tribe: Agrilini Laporte, 1835
Genus: Agrilus Curtis 1825
Agrilus biguttatus (Fabricius, 1776)