Buprestidae
Pronunciation: [Boo⋅PRESS·ti⋅dae]
Common Name: Metallic Wood-boring Beetles
Description: Buprestids are hard-bodied insects with a characteristic “bullet” shape. The exoskeleton usually has a distinct metallic sheen. Some species are mostly black or gray in color, but others may be colorfully marked with blue, green, or copper patterns. Larvae are often called flat-headed borers. They feed on wood in tunnels they excavate under the bark of dead or dying trees.
Spot ID Key Characters:
- Bullet-shaped body, often with a metallic sheen
- Saw-toothed or thread-like antennae
- Tips of elytra rounded
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Order: Coleoptera
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