Species Details
Agrilus politus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum Read more about this collection »
SeasonalityJune, July and August.
IdentificationThis is a very broad ranging and variable species. It is likely to contain several cryptic species. The pygidium lacks a projecting ridge, the elytral colour tends towards green, coppery or leaden. This species is similar to A. burkei and A. pseudocoryli. There is great difficulty separating A. burkei, from politus. At one time, burkei was a subspecies of politus. In Alberta there are blue "politus" mixed in with the usual coppery ones. Either the blue ones are confused burkei or there is really no difference and they are all one species, politus.
Scientific Name
Agrilus politus
Habitat
Willow thickets.
Seasonality
June, July and August.
Identification
This is a very broad ranging and variable species. It is likely to contain several cryptic species. The pygidium lacks a projecting ridge, the elytral colour tends towards green, coppery or leaden. This species is…
This is a very broad ranging and variable species. It is likely to contain several cryptic species. The pygidium lacks a projecting ridge, the elytral colour tends towards green, coppery or leaden. This species is similar to A. burkei and A. pseudocoryli. There is great difficulty separating A. burkei, from politus. At one time, burkei was a subspecies of politus. In Alberta there are blue "politus" mixed in with the usual coppery ones. Either the blue ones are confused burkei or there is really no difference and they are all one species, politus.
Life History
Unrecorded.
Conservation
Common.
Diet Info
Reared from willow and maple (Bright, 1987). In Alberta the beetles have been collected on alder, aspen, birch, spruce, lodgepole pine, balsam poplar and willow. All Alberta rearing records are from willow.
Range
North America (Bright, 1987).
Citation
Page Citation for Agrilus politus
Page Citation
"Species Details - Agrilus politus, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-3234. Accessed 12 Apr. 2025.
References
Author
Bright, D. E.
Title
The Metallic Wood-boring Beetles of Canada and Alaska. Coleoptera: Buprestidae.
Publication Date
1987
Pages
335
Specimen Information
There are 4 specimens of this Species.
UASM23576 - Agrilus politus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByCarr, F. S.
Date Collected1919-06-19
UASM23577 - Agrilus politus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByCarr, F. S.
Date Collected1922-06-29
UASM23578 - Agrilus politus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Gull Lake
Collected ByCarr, F. S.
Date Collected1929-06-21
UASM25351 - Agrilus politus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Medicine Hat
Collected ByCarr, F. S.
Date Collected1932-07-18