Jewel beetles

Destructive wood-boring beetles include the flatheaded apple tree borer, which can cause major damage to orchards. The emerald ash borer wreaks havoc on ash trees, so plentiful in urban parks and along streets. Recently introduced to North America, this insect has been spreading at a fast rate across southern Canada and the northeastern United States.

These sun-loving beetles can be seen on the trunk and branches of the trees attacked by their larvae. Because they are very quick to scuttle or fly away, they are difficult to capture.

While larvae are for the most part xylophagous (wood-eating), adults feed on leaves, bark and flowers.

Some jewel beetles are used for decorative purposes: their elytra, and occasionally the entire insect, are incorporated in brooches and other pieces of jewellery.