CLOSED: Mystery bronze beetle ID desired if possible

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slywlf Brooksville, FL(Zone 9a) Jun 04, 2013

Catskills NY zone 5, I was sitting outside under the trees this weekend (June 1) and this interesting beetle sort of half landed, half fell on me. It seemed so gentle and harmless and I was nowhere near a camera so I observed it as closely as I could both for appearance and behavior before it flew off again. I've been looking at all sorts of ID sites, but having no luck. Then it occurred to me this might be a new invasive species, since nothing remotely like it has popped up in my searches so far, so I came here ;-)

A bit under 1/2" in length, long and slender rather than round, the wing cases were a striking "embossed" bronze - not smooth - the antennae were quite short and had a 90 degree turn to the outside shortly out from the head. When startled it would simply fold its legs and tumble, like a little bronze log and stay all folded up playing dead for a minute, much as I have seen ladybugs do - and there was also similarity in the antennae and leg/feet shape . Once it was upright in my hand it gradually stood and looked around - then flew off.

I realize this is a long shot, but anybody recognize my bronze beauty?

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themoonhowl Prairieville, LA(Zone 9a) Jun 04, 2013

Possibly Agrilus anxius Bronze birch borer native to Canada and the Northeastern US

http://www.entomology.ualberta.ca/searching_species_details.php?b=Coleoptera&c=7&s=3229


http://wiki.bugwood.org/Agrilus_anxius

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slywlf Brooksville, FL(Zone 9a) Jun 06, 2013

Quote from themoonhowl :
Possibly Agrilus anxius Bronze birch borer native to Canada and the Northeastern US

http://www.entomology.ualberta.ca/searching_species_details.php?b=Coleoptera&c=7&s=3229


http://wiki.bugwood.org/Agrilus_anxius


Thank you - I think this is very likely correct, as there are a lot of white birch in my area, including a large bunch of cut logs we just dropped in the back yard. This handsome fellow probably hitched a ride with the latest delivery. Too bad the species is considered a serious pest, so the next one I see will wind up considerably less pretty :-/

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themoonhowl Prairieville, LA(Zone 9a) Jun 06, 2013

You are most welcome...always sad when the pretty bugs are the rude ones....grin

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