Jewel beetle

Habitat:

Standing trees. Damaged wood may be incorporated into buildings. It is commonest in imported North American softwoods, including western red cedar. Some larvae may survive drying and emerge later as adults, but they cannot re-infest dried timber. Records suggest that larvae of some species can survive for over 20 years in dry timber, and emerge as adults many years after the installation of buildings.

Damage characteristics:

Emergence holes Few, large, oval, 7-8 mm across at the widest point.

Tunnels Flattened oval or kidney shaped, 7-8 mm in diameter, rarely joining up.

Bore dust Sausage-shaped pellets, densely packed in tunnels.

Insect characteristics and location:

Adults Lare, flattened. Typically 11-20 mm, thogh rarely up to 65 mm. Commonest species is a distinctive, bright metallic green. Occasionally found on or around timber.

Larva Up to 35 mm long, straight, pale cream. No legs. Distinctive large flat head end. Rarely found in building timbers.