Flatheaded Borers

Buprestidae larvae

Flatheaded Borers is a family-level flatheaded-borer umbrella associated with stressed trees, shrubs, nursery liners, trunks, branches, and recently cut wood. Larvae girdle cambium, cause bark cracking, branch dieback, thinning crowns, and death of stressed young trees. Act before internal protection develops.

Identification

Larvae are legless with a broad flattened thoracic region. Adults are often metallic wood-boring beetles. Galleries lie beneath bark or in sapwood and may end in D-shaped exit holes. Inspect sun-exposed bark, recent wounds, and declining branches for serpentine galleries and D-shaped exits. Collect larvae or adults when possible.

Symptoms / Signs

Larvae girdle cambium, cause bark cracking, branch dieback, thinning crowns, and death of stressed young trees. Old holes may outlast activity.

Life Cycle / Process

Flatheaded Borers undergoes complete metamorphosis. Egg placement follows the occupied site on stressed trees, shrubs, nursery liners, trunks, branches, and recently cut wood.

Prevention

Maintain vigor, prevent injury, and remove active reservoirs. Priority reservoir for this record: stressed trees, shrubs, nursery liners, trunks, branches, and recently cut wood.

Management / Control

Prevent drought and transplant stress, protect bark from injury, remove infested wood, and apply preventive bark treatments only during susceptible adult activity.

Procedure Steps

1. Map the freshest holes, frass, wilt, flagging, sap, or branch decline. 2. Collect the larva, pupa, or adult with the damaged tissue. 3. Close the Flatheaded Borers incident only after new internal injury stops.

Safety Notes

Protect food, seed, packaging, workers, and Myco-Patrons during inspection and treatment. Use tamper-resistant placements where baits or traps are necessary, and keep pesticides off food-contact surfaces. Structural or termite work may require a licensed Florida pest-control operator.