Species Content Page

Beetles
Emerald ash borer
Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)
Status
Exotic (absent from Australia) High Impact Pest Species
Dorsal view - female Zoomify

Caption: USA. Michigan, Wayne Co., A. Kennedy, ex reared from ash tree
Source: Simon Hinkley & Ken Walker Museum Victoria

Members of the genus Agrilus are difficult to distinguish. The following characters will assist with the recognition of the emerald ash borer:

- No patches of  pubescence

- Pronotum copper/green

- Elytra and abdominal sternites emerald green

- Abdominal tergites purplish copper in colour

- Adult body length about 13mm

- Emarginate pygidial spine.

Source:

http://www.emeraldashborer.info/files/agriscrn.pdf

 

The adult 7.5-14.0 mm long and 3.0-3.4 mm. wide. The body is narrow, elongate and cuniform and a metallic green colour overall. The abdomen is an iridescent reddish-purple but only seen when the elytra are flared. The prothorax is transversely rectangular, slightly wider than the head, but the same width as the anterior margin of the elytra. The anterior margin of the elytra is raised, forming a transverse ridge, the surface of which is covered with punctures. The posterior margins of the elytra are round and obtuse with small tooth-like knobby projections on the edge.

 

Mature larvae are 26 - 32 mm long and creamy white in color. The head of the larva is flat and the vertex is shield-shaped. The head of the larva is small, brown and partially retracted into the prothorax, exposing mostly the mouthparts. The prothorax is enlarged, whereas the meso- and meta-thorax are slightly narrower; the mesothorax bears spiracles. The abdomen is 10-segmented; the 1st to 8th segments with one pair of spiracles each and the last segment bears one pair of brownish, serrated urogomphi.

 

Source:

 

http://www.invasivespecies.net/database/species/ecology.asp?si=722&fr=1&sts=

 

Specimen contact point: Museum Victoria

Citation: Walker, K. (2007) Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) Pest and Diseases Image Library. Updated on 12/19/2007 4:51:32 PM. Available online: http://www.padil.gov.au

Created Date: 11/14/2005 12:03:26 PM

Last Updated: 12/19/2007 4:51:32 PM

Diagnostic Images

Elytra

Head Front

Head Side

Pronotum

Thorax Side

Overview Images

Dorsal

Lateral

Ventral

Other Images

Both sexes

Both sexes lateral head and thorax

Dorsal view - male

Lateral view - male

Lateral view - male

Lateral view of head and thorax

Ventral male head and thorax

Ventral view - male

Larva

Pygidium

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