Family Buprestidae
Genus Anthaxia
These two Metallic Wood-boring Beetles of the genus Anthaxia were cavorting in some flowers
at Payson Lakes in Utah County. © Carol Davis 7-6-2008
Species: Acmaeodera diffusa
I found these beautiful, but destructive, wood-boring beetles in the wetlands below Jordanelle Dam. Wood-boring beetles are very
destructive in the larval stage as they can actually kill trees by girdling the trunks. The adults, obviously, prefer pollen.
I think these Acmaeodera diffusa are beautiful! Look how different the patterns are on each of these even though
I found them on the same kind of flowers in the same general area.
Bugguide.net identified the top two as Acmaeodera diffusa species and I'm assuming this beetle may be the
same species. © Carol Davis, 6-21-2005
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