Family Buprestidae, genus Buprestis Linnaeus (by: Gerald J. Hilchie, February 9, 2001; images Danny Shpeley, January 24, 2002)
Pictorial guide to species of Buprestis Linnaeus known to occur in Alberta.
Key to adults of the
species of Buprestis in
Alberta.
(Links in couplets are to images of species keyed out and species
links are to species text)
1. Elytra covered with fine yellow
flecks...................................................... B.
confluenta
1'. Elytra black, green, blue, or copper, may have large yellow
to orange spots, 2, 4
or 6, never with flecks
...........................................................................................................
2
2. Elytra with 4 to 5 costa
(ridges) separated by a wide finely and densely punctate
intervals
....................................................................................................................................
3
2'. Elytra with close, almost touching ridges, or more widely
separated, black, green,
or spotted
...................................................................................................................................
4
3. Elytra brilliant green with suture and lateral
margins cupreous ........ B. aurulenta
3'. Elytra dull coppery to brownish green .....................................................
B. sulcicollis
4. Abdominal sternites black,
lateral margins and usually last segment marked with
orange
.......................................................................................................................................
5
4'. Abdominal sternites green, dark blue, coppery, no orange
markings ................... 8
5. Elytra with 2, 4 or 6 yellow
orange spots or loosely connected together, if
immaculate, all abdominal sternites with pair of orange spots or
only 2 spots on the
last abdomenal sternite
..........................................................................................................
6
5'. Elytra lacking spots, abdominal sternites 1 and 2 without
spots ............................... 7
6. Interstrial spaces of elytra
evenly elevated, elytra with spots merging together
into an irregular band; usually with two orange
spots on the last
sternite ...................
.........................................................................................................................
B. maculipennis
6'. Interstrial spaces alternating high and low, spots usually
descrete, 2, 4 or 6; most
abdomental sternites with lateral orange spots. On spruce and pine, common
..............
......................................................................................................................................
B. nutalli
7. Elytra costa strongly
convex, size larger (average 20 mm), last abdominal sternite
with a pair of large spots to a transverse orange bar, face usually
yellow orange
with two black spots ...................................................................................................
B. lyrata
7'. Elytra costa weakly convex, appears to have a slight
depression about 1/4 to 1/3
down the elytra, smaller size (average 16 mm), last abdominal
sternite weakly
marked, lateral spots small, colour dark, somewhat bronze to
greenish brown,
frons
usually dark, clypeus
may be yellow to orange .........................B.
maculiventris
8. Alternate elytral costa weak and strong, elytral apices well
rounded, usually
bright green with coppery suture and lateral margins, never with
spots on the
elytra ......................................................................................................................
B. intricata
8'. Elytral costa uniform, elytral apices blunt to bidentate,
colour variable, green,
blue, may have yellow spots
.................................................................................................
9
9. Body elongate, usually
green, never with suture cupreous, females 0 to 2 spots,
males
2, 4 or 6 yellow spots,
elytral apices bidentate ..........................................
B. langi
9'. Body
more stout, never with
elytral spots, green through blue, suture may be
cupreous ...................................................................................................................
B. adjecta
Buprestis aurulenta Linnaeus (Images) - Golden Buprestid
Habitat: Conifer forests with injured or
dying trees and around logging operations and saw mills.
Seasonality: July.
Identification: This species is easily recognised from all other
Alberta species of Buprestis, by the presence of 5 elytral
costae, brilliant blue to green colour with cupreous margins of
the elytra. Similar species are B. sulcicollis (LeConte)
and B. striata (Fabr.). Adults range in size from
13 to 22 mm.
Life History: Adults are readily attracted to injured trees,
fresh stumps, and blow down. They have even been observed on
fresh sawn lumber. These beetles are considered pests in much of
their range. Adults may lay eggs in cracks near injuries, cut
edges of lumber etc. The larvae hatch, then mine under the bark
or through the wood, causing mechanical injury and defects
especially in Douglas Fir and Ponderosa Pine. Damage consists of
mines and exit holes in the wood. Typically the larvae and emerge
as adults in 2 to 4 years from the wood. Under conditions of
stress the cycle may be prolonged to well over 40 years. There
are many documented cases of beetles emerging from within
buildings from a wide variety of locations, including hand rails,
doors, kitchen shelving, baseboards and various structural
timbers. Beetles have shown up in Europe, emerging from lumber
and shipping crates.
Conservation: Considered a pest in much of its range. Rare in
Alberta
Diet information: Known to bred in a wide variety of Pines,
including limber and lodgepole, Douglas Fir, grand fir, and
western red cedar.
Range: These beetles are found through the Pacific Northwest,
from southern B.C. southward through the Rocky mountains to
Mexico. A few specimens have been taken in Manitoba.
Data: B. aurulenta
Locality | Date | collector | sex | host | specimen nature | location collection | notes |
Waterton | 8.vii.1923 | 1 female | pinned | CNC | |||
??, Alberta | F.S. Carr (1920) |
Buprestis sulcicollis (LeConte) (Images)
Habitat: Northern Conifer forests.
Seasonality: Inadequate information, expected activity of adults
late June through July.
Identification: The dorsal surface is dull copper to brown or
green. The 4 elevated elytral costa are more shining. Elytra and
venter lack pale spots. These characters separates B.
sulcicollis from all other Alberta species of Buprestis.
Adult length is 11 to 15.5 mm.
Life History: Very little is know about this species
Conservation: Rare, uncommon.
Diet information: In east, the beetles have been recorded from
several pines. In Alberta it is suspected to use Jack Pine.
Range: Wide spread from Quebec, the Great Lakes and Atlantic
States, just getting into north eastern Alberta and adjacent
North West Territories.
Data: B. sulcicollis
Locality | Date | collector | sex | host | specimen nature | location collection | notes |
(nr. Cold Lake)?? | D.E. Bright (1987) | ||||||
Fort MacKay, 4.5 km N of bridge | 24.vi-8.vii 1979 | J.K. Ryan & G.J. Hilchie | 1 female | pinned | Hilchie | pitfall trap in disturbed area | |
Mildred Lake | 7.vii.1979 | G.J. Hilchie & J.K. Ryan | 1 | pinned | Hilchie | malaise trap |
Buprestis langi Mannerheim (Images: female; male)
Habitat: Conifer forests of the boreal,
montane and subalpine regions.
Seasonality: In Alberta, adults are known from July 2 through
September 3.
Identification: Males tend to be brilliant green, sometimes with
coppery over tones, with large yellow paired spots (2, 4 or 6) on
their elytra. Females differ in usually lacking spots, or with a
pair of small spots on their brilliant green elytra. The beetles
are of moderate size with females ranging from 13 to 19 mm. with
a mean of 15.5 mm (n=21) and males 14.5 to 15.0 mm (n=2).
Life History: Little is known of their life history. Females are
seldom found in association with the males. They are frequently
captured while trying to oviposit on logs. Males, rarely
collected, may be found on the foliage of willow, alders and
poplars near where the females are ovipositing. The sister
species B. faciata (Fabricius) is reported breeding in
maple and poplar. It is interesting to speculate that there has
been a host shift with B. langi in that development is now
in conifers but the mating sites are still associated with
hardwoods. Prolonged larval development has been reported for
this species with emergence from flooring, siding and pilings.
Conservation: Wide spread, can be locally common with the
potential of causing significant damage to cut trees and lumber
products.
Diet information: Larvae have been reported in Douglas Fir. Other
hosts are ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine and white spruce. In
Alberta adult females are often associated with lodgepole pine.
Range: The species is found from Mexico north to central B.C. in
the mountains with populations in the boreal forest of Manitoba
and Saskatchewan. Alberta records are primarily in the foothill
and mountain forests (lodgepole pine zone).
Data: B. langi
Locality | Date | collector | sex | host | specimen nature | location collection | notes |
Allison | 1.viii.1949 | 1 | P. contorta | pinned | NFS | ||
Banff | 5.viii.1937 | F.S. Carr | 4 females | pinned | UASM | ||
Banff | 10.viii.1927 | F.S. Carr | 1 | pinned | UASM | ||
Blairmore | |||||||
Bragg Creek | 5.viii.1973 | F. Sperling | 1 female | pinned | Hilchie | ||
Cadomin | 12.vii.1950 | 1 male | alder | pinned | NFC | ||
Calgary to Banff, mi 31 | ? | F.S. Carr | 1 female | pinned | UASM | in copulation with male nutalli | |
Canmore | 5.viii.1961 | BF & JL Carr | 1 female | pinned | CNC | ||
Cataract Creek | 4.viii.1974 | G.J. Hilchie | 10 females | pinned | Hilchie | Lodgepole pine logs, sawmill | |
Chungo Cr. | 29.vii.1948 | 1 female | pinned | NFC | |||
Coleman | 2.vii.1958 | BF & JL Carr | 1 female | pinned | CNC | ||
Coleman, Wind Falls | 31.vii.1949 | 1 | pinned | NFS | |||
Cowley | 3.vii.1963 | 1 female | pinned | NFC | |||
Crowsnest | 4.viii.1949 | F.D. | 1 female | willow | pinned | NFC | |
Cypress Hills | 29.vii.1930 | F.S. Carr | 4 females | pinned | UASM | ||
Debolt | 1.vii.1969 | 1 female | P. glauca | pinned | NFC | ||
Elmworth | 5.viii.1968 | 1 female | P. glauca | pinned | NFC | ||
End Mountain | |||||||
Ghost Dam | 16.viii.1953 | BF & JL Carr | 1 female | pinned | CNC | ||
Ghost Dam | 3.ix.1967 | BF & JL Carr | 1 female | pinned | CNC | ||
Gorge Creek | 30.vii.1958 | D.H. | 10 females | pinned | NFC | ||
Gorge Creek | 1.ix.1954 | D.A.B | 1 female | pinned | NFC | ||
Gorge Creek | 16.vii.1958 | B. Hocking | 1 | pinned | UASM | ||
Gorge Creek | 24.vii.1958 | B. Hocking | 1 | pinned | UASM | ||
Gorge Creek | 30.vii.1958 | B. Hocking | 5 | pinned | UASM | ||
Gorge Creek | 5.viii.1958 | B. Hocking | 1 | pinned | UASM | ||
Gorge Creek | 22.vii.1958 | Hochachka | 1 | pinned | UASM | ||
Gorge Creek | 2.viii.1958 | Hochachka | 1 | pinned | UASM | ||
Grovedale, 47 mi S | 16.viii.61 | 1 female | P. contorta | pinned | NFC | ||
Lake Minnewanka | 28.vii.1932 | F.S. Carr | 2 females | pinned | UASM | ||
Morley, 21 mi N | 19.viii.1967 | 1 female | P. contorta | pinned | NFC | ||
Morley, | 14.vii.1967 | 1 | P. contorta | pinned | NFC | ||
Nordegg | 29.vii.1948 | 1 | cottonwood | pinned | NFC | ||
Nordegg | 18.viii.1954 | D.H. | 1 female | pinned | NFC | ||
Robb | 6.vii.1950 | 1 female | pinned | NFC | spruce and pine lumber | ||
Tp39 R16 W5 | 4.vii.1967 | BF & JL Carr | 1 female | pinned | CNC | ||
Tp22 R5 W5 | 3.viii.1983 | BF & JL Carr | 2 | pinned | CNC | ||
Tp93 R23 W5 | 12.vii.1981 | BF & JL Carr | 1 | pinned | CNC | ||
Tp35 R18 W5 | 3.viii.1967 | BF & JL Carr | 1 | pinned | CNC | ||
Turner Valley | 7.vii.1957 | BF & JL Carr | 1 female | pinned | CNC | ||
Two Lakes | |||||||
Wadlin Lake | 16.viii.1962 | 1 | pinned | NFC | |||
Warterton | 8.vii.1932 | F.S. Carr | 2 females | pinned | UASM | ||
Wembly, 80 mi S, | 5.viii.1956 | 1 female | pinned | NFC |
Buprestis maculipennis Gory (Images)
Habitat: Northern Conifer forests.
Seasonality: Inadequate information, expected activity of adults
late June through August.
Identification: The dorsal surface is dark brown to black with
yellow-orange maculation often joining into a longitudinal
irrigular band. The evenly elevated elytral inter strial spaces
help separate this species from similar appearing B. nutalli..
The last abdomenal sternite usually has a pair of orange spots.
Adult length is 10 to 15 mm.
Life History: Very little is know about this species.
Conservation: Rare, uncommon.
Diet information: In the south, these beetles feed on a variety
of pines. In Alberta it is suspected to use Jack Pine.
Range: Sporadic occurances are recorded through the boreal forest
region of Canada, Saskatchewan and eastward. Most records are
from the southern (Texas to Florida) and eastern states (New
Jersey and south) of the USA.
Data: B. maculipennis
Locality | Date | collector | sex | host | specimen nature | location collection | notes | |
Athabasca Dunes Prov. Pk. 58o 9.00 N, 110 o 54.3W | Aug 20, 2000 | D. Macauley & D Lawrie | 1 female | pinned | Hilchie | found dead on sand dunes | ||
Athabasca Dunes Prov. Pk. 58o 9.00 N, 110 o 54.3W | Aug 20, 2000 | D. Macauley & D Lawrie | 1 male | pinned | Macauley | found dead on sand dunes |
Buprestis maculiventris Say (Images)
Habitat: Boreal conifer forests.
Seasonality: Late June through early August.
Identification: Beetles of B. maculiventris are dark with
a bronzed lustre. on the elytra, a slight depression exists 1/4
to 1/2 the distance from the apex. Slight transverse wrinkle
marks, occur in the depression. No yellow markings are present on
the elytra. The last 4 abdominal sterna are usually maculated
with orange spots. This species is easily confused with B.
lyrata but may be distinguished by its smaller average size.
Immaculate beetles of B. nutalli are very similar, but
have lateral maculations on all abdominal sterna. Beetles of B.
maculiventris from 13 to 20 mm.
Life History: Very little is known of this beetles life history.
Conservation: Widespread, sporadic.
Diet information: In eastern Canada recorded from Fraser fir,
various pines and white spruce. In Alberta the beetle has been
associated with white spruce.
Range: The beetle is found from the North West Territories east
to the Maritimes and south into the Eastern United States. In
Alberta it is found in the northern boreal forest and an isolated
population in the Cypress Hills.
Data: B. maculiventris
Locality | Date | collector | sex | host | specimen nature | location collection | notes |
Andrew | 21.vi.1921 | 1 | pinned | UASM | |||
Clyde, 8 km E of | 20.vii.2000 | G.J. Hilchie | 3 | pinned | Hilchie | fire killed spruce and jack pine | |
Clyde, 8 km E of | 25.vii.2000 | G.J. Hilchie | 14 | pinned | Hilchie | fire killed spruce and jack pine | |
Clyde, 8 km E of | 28.vii.2000 | G.J. Hilchie | 3 | pinned | Hilchie | fire killed spruce and jack pine | |
Cypress Hills | 20.viii.1931 | Carr | 1 male | pinned | Hilchie | ||
Cypress Hills | 10.vii.1970? | EM Pike | 2 | pinned | ?? | ||
Edmonton | 3.vii.1919 | FS Carr | 1 | pinned | UASM | ||
Edmonton | 28.vii.1911 | FS Carr | 1 | pinned | UASM | ||
Edmonton | 7.vii.1928 | FS Carr | 1 | pinned | UASM | ||
Fort Chipewyan (near) | Bright (1987, map) | ||||||
High Prairie | 3.viii.1958 | 1 | w. spruce | pinned | NFC | ||
La Crete | 28.vii.1967 | 1 | w. spruce | pinned | NFC | ||
Red Deer, 28 mi E | 26.vii.1950 | RSA | 1 | cottonwood | pinned | NFC | |
Tp15 R5 W5 | 27.vii.1980 | JL&BF Carr | 1 | pinned | CNC | ||
Tp28 R5 W5 | 20.vii.1979 | JL&BF Carr | 1 | pinned | CNC | ||
Tp34 R7 W5 | 4.vii.1980 | JL&BF Carr | 2 | pinned | CNC | ||
Tp34 R7 W5 | 5.vii.1980 | JL&BF Carr | 2 | pinned | CNC | ||
Tp34 R7 W5 | 9.vii.1980 | JL&BF Carr | 5 | pinned | CNC | ||
Tp34 R7 W5 | 13.vii.1980 | JL&BF Carr | 5 | pinned | CNC | ||
Tp34 R7 W5 | 18.vii.1980 | JL&BF Carr | 1 | pinned | CNC | ||
Tp93 R10 W4 | 27.vii.1984 | JL&BF Carr | 1 | pinned | CNC | ||
Valleyview | 30.vii.1969 | 2 | w. spruce | pinned | NFC | ||
Wadlin Lake | 16.vii.1962 | 1 | pinned | NFC | found around campsite |
Buprestis lyrata Kirby (Images)
Habitat: Conifer forests, usually
containing Douglas fir or pines.
Seasonality: July.
Identification: In general, these beetles are larger, in Alberta
averaging 19.25 mm.(n= 13, 16-23 mm) Beetles are black without
dorsal maculations, ventrally the last 1 to 3 abdominal sternites
have lateral orange spots. A few immaculate B. nutalli may
be confused with this species. size and presence of maculation on
all abdominal sternites will separate the species.
Life History: Little is known.
Conservation: The beetles are relatively uncommon. In the
foothills they may be locally common on fresh Douglas fir logs.
Diet information: In B.C. B. lyrata is known from
ponderosa pine and Douglas Fir. In Alberta the beetles have been
associated with Douglas Fir logs. In the east neither of these
tree species are present, which implies the use of another host,
probably jack pine.
Range: The beetles are reported to occur from B.C. east to Nova
Scotia in the boreal forest, and south through the mountain
regions of western United States. In Alberta the specimens that I
have seen all come from the montane forests, with Douglas Fir.
Bright (1987) shows records from the Peace river area and in
Saskatchewan around east of Cold Lake.
Data: B. lyrata
Locality | Date | collector | sex | host | specimen nature | location collection | notes |
Canmore | 5.viii.61 | BF & JL Carr | 1 | CNC | |||
Coleman | 26.vii.58 | BF & JL Carr | 1 | CNC | |||
Frank | 18.vii.49 | lodgepole pine | pinned | CFS | |||
Frank | 16.vii.49 | D. Fir | pinned | NFC | |||
Kananaskis River, upper | 3.viii.1974 | GJ Hilchie | 5
females 3 males |
Douglas Fir | pinned | Hilchie | on logs cleared for road work |
Kananaskis River, upper | 3.viii.1974 | GJ Hilchie | 1
female 1 male |
Douglas Fir | pinned | UASM | |
Lethbridge | 29.vii.1956 | RH Gooding | 1 | pinned | UASM |
Buprestis nutalli Kirby (Images)
Habitat: Conifer forests across Canada.
Seasonality: Late May through mid September.
Identification: Maculated individuals are easily recognised. The
dorsal surface is black usually with 4 or 6 orange spots (a few
individuals may have 2 or no spots). Ventrally, all abdominal
sternites have lateral orange spots. Immaculate individuals may
be distinguished from the larger (usually) immaculate B.
lyrata by the orange spots on all the sternites. Examination
of the male genitalia is also diagnostic. Beetles range from 13
through 18.5 mm with a mean size of 15.4 mm (n=37). males tend to
be slightly smaller than the females. Some individuals may be
confused with B. maculipennis, based on maculation
pattern, the undulating height of the alternate elytral intervals
on B. nutalli is diagnostic.
Life History: Details of the life cycle have not been worked out.
Males of B. nutalli come to the oviposition sites looking for
females. On several occasions, male B. nutalli have be
observed in copula with the females of the wrong species, most
commonly those of B. langi. No hybrid offspring
have been found to date.
Conservation: This is the most common species of the genus found
in Alberta.
Diet information: These beetles are associated with many species
of pines, fir, Douglas fir, and white spruce. In Alberta adults
are knwon from lodgepole pine and white spruce.
Range: From Alaska in the north east to Quebec and south to
Arizona and New Mexico. In Alberta specimens have been found in
the boreal, foothills, and mountain conifer forests. No specimens
have been collected to date in the Cypress Hills.
Data: B. nutalli
Locality | Date | collector | sex | host | specimen nature | location collection | notes |
Banff | 14.vii.1927 | FS Carr | 1 | pinned | UASM | ||
Banff | 28.vii.1920 | FS Carr | 1 | pinned | UASM | ||
Bassano | 24.vi.1972 | JL & BF Carr | 1 | pinned | CNC | ||
Beaver Mines L. cpgr | 28.vii.1999 | G. J. Hilchie | 1 | pinned | Hilchie | ||
Bitumont | 10.vii.1979 | GJ Hilchie | 1 | pinned | Hilchie | ||
Bragg Creek | 4.ix.1973 | GJ Hilchie | 2 | pine | pinned | Hilchie | |
Bragg Creek | 6.ix.1973 | GJ Hilchie | 2 | pine | pinned | Hilchie | |
Cataract Creek | 4.viii.1974 | GJ Hilchie | 16 | pinned | Hilchie | ||
Cataract Creek | 4.viii.1974 | GJ Hilchie | 1 | pinned | UASM | ||
Clyde, 8 km E of | 25.vii.2000 | G.J. Hilchie | 2 | pinned | Hilchie | fire killed spruce and jack pine | |
Coleman | 26.vii.1958 | JL & BF Carr | 1 | pinned | CNC | ||
Deadwood, 14 mi E | 15.vii.1960 | 1 | P. glauca | pinned | NFC | ||
Edmonton | 11.vii.1918 | FS Carr | 1 | pinned | UASM | ||
Exshaw | |||||||
Fairview | 11.vii.1958 | 1 | P. glauca | pinned | NFC | ||
Ghost Dam | 1.vii.1975 | JL & BF Carr | 1 | pinned | CNC | ||
Ghost Dam | 26.vi.1967 | JL & BF Carr | 1 | pinned | CNC | ||
Ghost Dam | 16.viii.1953 | JL & BF Carr | 1 | pinned | CNC | ||
Gorge Creek | 15.vii.1958 | B Hocking | 1 | pinned | UASM | ||
Gorge Creek | 19.vii.1958 | B Hocking | 1 | pinned | UASM | ||
Gorge Creek | 21.vii.1958 | B Hocking | 1 | pinned | UASM | ||
Gorge Creek | 26.vii.1958 | B Hocking | 1 | pinned | UASM | ||
Gorge Creek | 30.vii.1958 | B Hocking | 13 | pinned | UASM | ||
Gorge Creek | 4.viii.1958 | B Hocking | 2 | pinned | UASM | ||
Gorge Creek | 5.viii.1958 | B Hocking | 1 | pinned | UASM | ||
Gorge Creek | 22.vii.1958 | Hochachka | 1 | pinned | UASM | ||
Gorge Creek | 18.vii.1958 | A. Miller | 1 | pinned | UASM | ||
Grovedale | 6.viii.1968 | 1 | P. glauca | pinned | NFC | ||
Grovedale, 47 mi S | 16.vii.1961 | 1 | pinned | NFC | |||
Hotchkiss | 5.vii.1954 | 1 | P. contorta | pinned | NFC | ||
Jasper | 18.ix.1999 | G.J. Hilchie | 1 | pinned | Hilchie | resturant patio, wood oven | |
Kananaskis Lake | 26.viii.1956 | JL & BF Carr | 1 | pinned | CNC | ||
Kananaskis Lake | 20.vii.1971 | JL & BF Carr | 2 | pinned | CNC | ||
Kananaskis River, upper | 3.viii.1974 | GJ Hilchie | 2 | pine | pinned | Hilchie | |
Kinuso | 3.viii.1949 | 1 | willow | pinned | NFC | ||
La Crete | 28.vii.1967 | 1 | P. glauca | pinned | NFC | ||
Lake Minnewanka | 28.vii.1932 | FS Carr | 2 | pinned | UASM | washup | |
Lethbridge | 17.v.1923 | HE Gray | 1 | pinned | UASM | ||
Nordegg | 18.vii.1958 | 1 | P. glauca | pinned | NFC | ||
Opal | 5.vii.1956 | EM Schwartz | 1 | pinned | UASM | ||
Plateau Mountain | 30.vii.1958 | JL & BF Carr | 1 | pinned | CNC | ||
Prairie Creek | 28.v.1951 | 1 | black birch | pinned | NFC | ||
Ribbon Creek | 19.vii.1970 | EM Pike | 1 | pinned | ? | ||
Robb | 14.vii.1949 | 2 | pinned | NFC | |||
Robb | 6.viii.1950 | 2 | pinned | NFC | spruce and pine lumber | ||
Rocky Mountain House | 26.vii.1944 | 1 | P. contorta | pinned | NFC | ||
Saunders | 4.viii.1945 | 1 | P. contorta | pinned | NFC | ||
Seebe | 6.viii.1961 | JL & BF Carr | 1 | pinned | CNC | ||
Seebe, KFES | 21.vii.1960 | 1 | pinned | NFC | |||
Seebe, KFES | 30.vii.1956 | 1 | pinned | NFC | |||
Sheep River | 1.ix.1957 | JL & BF Carr | 1 | pinned | CNC | ||
Tp15 R5 W5 | 27.v.1973 | JL & BF Carr | 4 | pinned | CNC | ||
Tp21 R6 W5 | 16.vii.1991 | JL & BF Carr | 1 | pinned | CNC | ||
Tp34 R7 W5 | 13.vii.1980 | JL & BF Carr | 3 | pinned | CNC | ||
Tp34 R7 W5 | 9.vii.1980 | JL & BF Carr | 3 | pinned | CNC | ||
Tp34 R7 W5 | 4.vii.1980 | JL & BF Carr | 1 | pinned | CNC | ||
Tp34 R7 W5 | 18.vii.1979 | JL & BF Carr | 1 | pinned | CNC | ||
Tp34 R7 W5 | 5.vii.1980 | JL & BF Carr | 2 | pinned | CNC | ||
Tp36 R9 W5 | 13.vii.1973 | JL & BF Carr | 1 | pinned | CNC | ||
Waghorn | 14.vi.1901 | 1 | pinned | UASM | |||
Waterton | 21.vii.1949 | 1 | birch | pinned | NFS |
Buprestis intricata Casey (Images)
Habitat: Montane lodgepole pine forests.
Seasonality: July
Identification: The beetles are often brilliant green to blue
with cupreous banding along the elytral suture and lateral
margins superficially resembling B. aurulenta. This
species differs from B. aurulenta in the presence of
closely spaced elytral costae (ridges, 6 or more). Structure of
the male genitalia are also diagnostic. The beetles range from
14.4 to 19.4 mm with a mean length of 17.4 mm. (n=7).
Life History: Very little is known.
Conservation: Very uncommon.
Diet information: The reported host is lodgepole pine, however,
one Alberta specimen was collected in association with white
spruce. It is likely that a wide range of conifers are used as
hosts, notably pines.
Range: These beetles are found sporadically from central B.C.
through Rocky Mountains, south to Mexico. In Alberta a few
beetles have been taken in the southern mountain/ foothill
region.
Data: B. intricata
Locality | Date | collector | sex | host | specimen nature | location collection | notes |
Plateau Mountain | 30.vii.1958 | BF & JL Carr | 1 | pinned | CNC | ||
Waterton | 7.vii.1931 | FS. Carr | 2 | pinned | UASM | ||
Waterton, Nat. Pk. | 9.vii.1948 | 1 | P. glauca | pinned | NFC |
Buprestis adjecta (LeConte) (Images)
Habitat: Pine forests of the Rocky
Mountains.
Seasonality: July to early September.
Identification: Accurate identification is difficult as the
species limits are not clearly understood. Male and female
genitalia are diagnostic, except females are more commonly
caught. Shape of the elytral apices, as reported in most keys
(Helfer 1941, Bright 1987) is used to separate the species,
bidentate in B. adjecta and rounded in B. intricata
does. Unfortunately this character does not work very well with
Alberta collected material. The beetles of B. adjecta tend
to be shorter, 14.23 mm, 12.5- 16.0 mm (females, n= 11) than B.
intricata. Of the specimens examined, the colour was a solid
blue to iridescent green without lateral or sutural coppery
regions.
Life History: Virtually nothing is known.
Conservation: Very uncommon.
Diet information: The beetles are reported from a variety of
pines and Englemann spruce. In Alberta this species is associated
with lodgepole pine.
Range: The beetles are found from southern British Columbia south
through the Rocky Mountains to New Mexico. In Alberta they have
been found in the southern mountains and foothills.
Data: B. adjecta
Locality | Date | collector | sex | host | specimen nature | location collection | notes |
Bragg Creek | 4.ix.1973 | GJ Hilchie | 1 female | pinned | Hilchie | ||
Lake Minnewanka | 28.vii.1932 | 1 | pinned | NFS | |||
Tp8 R5 W5 | 14.vii.1961 | BF & JL Carr | 1 | pinned | CNC | ||
Twin Butte | 1 female | pinned | CNC |
Buprestis confluenta Say (Images)
Habitat: Adults may be found basking on
piles of drift logs along rivers.
Seasonality: Adults are active from late June through August.
Identification: This species is perhaps the easiest to identify
of any in the genus. The fine yellow specks irregularly scattered
over the elytra are not found on any other species. The yellow
flecks may be widely separated to almost confluent. The head and
pronotum are usually a solid metallic green. The background
colour of the elytra is brilliant green through coppery brown and
occasionally purplely blue. The beetles range in length from 12
to 20 mm, with males about 14.2 mm and females about 17 mm.
Life History: Little is known.
Conservation: Relatively uncommon.
Diet information: The beetles have been reported from aspen and
cottonwood (Populus deltoides). In Alberta the beetles
have been associated with balsam poplar (P. balsamifera)
and cottonwood (Populus deltoides) drift logs.
Range: This species is reported from Quebec west to British
Columbia and south to Texas and California. In Alberta it is
sporadically found in the southern half of the province.
Data: B. confluenta
Locality | Date | collector | sex | host | specimen nature | location collection | notes |
Calgary | 28.vii.1972 | GJ Hilchie | 2
females 1 male |
pinned | Hilchie | basking on poplar drift logs, (P. balsamifera) | |
Calgary | 27.vii.1972 | GJ Hilchie | 1 | pinned | ? | ||
Empress, 7 mi S | 5.viii.1981 | BF & JL Carr | 5 | pinned | CNC | ||
Empress, 7 mi S | 5.viii.1981 | GJ Hilchie | 4 | pinned | Hilchie | basking on poplar drift logs, (P. deltoides) | |
Leduc | 31.viii.1914 | FS Carr | 1 | pinned | UASM | ||
Leduc | 3.viii ?? | FS Carr | 1 | pinned | ? | Nicolay & Weiss (1918) | |
Lethbridge | 1 | pinned | ? | ||||
Medicine Hat | 2.vii.1940 | JL Carr | 1 | pinned | UASM | ||
Ribbon Creek | 20.vii.1970 | BF & JL Carr | 1 | pinned | Carr | ||
Tp7 R2 W5 | 25.vi.1961 | BF & JL Carr | 1 | pinned | CNC | ||
Wabamum | 2.vii.?? | FS Carr | 1 | pinned | ? | Nicolay & Weiss (1918) | |
Waterton | 18.vii.1931 | FS Carr | 1 | pinned | UASM | ||
Whitecourt | 2.vii.1991 | GJ Hilchie | 1 | pinned | Hilchie | ||
Winterburn, Enoch I. R. | K Shaw | 1 | pinned | ? |