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Bupestrid beetles

Overhead view of eight green beetle specimens. All are similar in appearance, though the top left beetle is largest, and the top right feature six white spots on its wing covers. The beetles in the top row are all viewed showing their backsides, while the beetles in the bottom row are all either on their sides or backs.

The predatory wasp Cerceris fumipennis, which some call the smoky-winged beetle bandit, collects adults in the Buprestidae family (metallic wood-boring or jewel beetles) to feed to its young. Among such beetles is the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis); researchers monitor C. fumipennis nesting sites for emerald ash borer among its prey to detect presence of the invasive beetle nearby. Shown here are an assortment of beetles collected one day at a nesting site. Top row, left to right: Actenodes acornis, Actenodes simi, Phaenops fulvoguttatus. Bottom row: all Agrilus obsoletoguttatus. (Photo by Claire Rutledge, Ph.D.)

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