Metallic Wood-Boring Beetle (Jewel Beetle)

Found in forests, woodlands, and urban areas near host trees; they are especially attracted to dead, dying, or stressed timber.

Adults often feed on nectar or leaves; larvae (known as flatheaded borers) feed on the wood and inner bark of trees and shrubs.

Active during the day, especially in bright sunshine. They are known for their fast flight and ability to quickly drop from surfaces to escape predators. The larvae create characteristic winding galleries as they bore through wood.

While many species are vital for decomposing wood and recycling nutrients in ecosystems, some (like the Emerald Ash Borer) are invasive and highly destructive to commercial and native forests. They are generally harmless to humans.