Title

Insects Frequently Confused with Emerald Ash Borer in North Dakota

(E1604, Revised May 2023)
File
Publication File:
Summary

The Emerald ash borer is a beetle (Order Coleoptera). Beetles are recognized by having shell-like front wings called elytra. When the wings are folded, they meet forming a median line down the back. Currently, Emerald ash borer has not been found in North Dakota.

Lead Author
Lead Author:
Gerald M. Fauske, Collection Manager, Systematic Entomology Laboratory
Other Authors

Janet J. Knodel, Extension Entomologist

Availability
Availability:
Available in print from the NDSU Distribution Center.

Contact your county NDSU Extension office to request a printed copy.
NDSU staff can order copies online (login required).

Publication Sections

Table of Contents

Emerald Ash Borer

The Emerald ash borer (EAB) is a beetle (Order Coleoptera). Beetles are recognized by having shell-like front wings called elytra. When the wings are folded, they meet forming a median line down the back. Although EAB has not been found in North Dakota, it was detected in Moorhead, Clay County, Minnesota in early March 2023. Residents that live close to Moorhead should inspect their ash trees for any symptoms of emerald ash borer infestation (see E1634 Emerald Ash Borer – Biology and Integrated Pest Management in North Dakota).

Metallic wood-boring beetles (Family Buprestidae)

Compact beetles with short legs and “saw-toothed” antennae

  1. Emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire
    Emerald Ash Borer
    Photo Credit:
    Gerald M. Fauske, NDSU
    Emerald Ash Borer
  2. Honeysuckle borer, Agrilus cyanescens Ratzeburg
    Honeysuckle borer
    Photo Credit:
    Gerald M. Fauske, NDSU
    Honeysuckle borer, Agrilus cyanescens Ratzeburg
  3. Bronze birch borer, Agrilus anxius Gory
    Bronze birch borer
    Photo Credit:
    Gerald M. Fauske, NDSU
    Bronze birch borer, Agrilus anxius Gory
  4. Green metallic woodborer, Buprestis confluenta Say
    Green metallic woodborer
    Photo Credit:
    Gerald M. Fauske, NDSU
    Green metallic woodborer, Buprestis confluenta Say

Click beetles (Family Elateridae)

Beetles with a flexible joint between thorax and abdomen

     5. Green click beetle, Ctenicera species

Green click beetle,
Photo Credit:
Gerald M. Fauske, NDSU
Green click beetle, Ctenicera species

Weevils (Family Curculionidae)

Beetles with a “snout” and elbowed antennae

     6. Green Polydrusus weevil, Polydrusus species

Green Polydrusus weevil
Photo Credit:
Gerald M. Fauske, NDSU
Green Polydrusus weevil, Polydrusus species

Ground beetles (Family Carabidae)

Long-legged, agile beetles with long antennae

     7. Calleida beetle, Calleida species

Calleida beetle
Photo Credit:
Gerald M. Fauske, NDSU
Calleida beetle, Calleida species

     8. Six-spotted tiger beetle, Cicindela sexguttata Fabricius

Six-spotted tiger beetle
Photo Credit:
Gerald M. Fauske, NDSU
Six-spotted tiger beetle, Cicindela sexguttata Fabricius

     9. Green pubescent ground beetle, Chlaenius sericeus Forster

Green pubescent ground beetle
Photo Credit:
Gerald M. Fauske, NDSU
Green pubescent ground beetle, Chlaenius sericeus Forster

Blister beetles (Family Meloidae)

Soft-winged beetles with head narrowed behind eyes

     10. Nuttall blister beetle, Lytta nuttalli Say

Nuttall blister beetle
Photo Credit:
Gerald M. Fauske, NDSU
Nuttall blister beetle, Lytta nuttalli Say

Scarab beetles (Family Scarabaeidae)

Beetles with lopsided antennal club and flattened front legs

     11. Green-marked chafer Dolichonyx subvittatus Capiomont

Green-marker chafer
Photo Credit:
Gerald M. Fauske, NDSU
Green-marked chafer Dolichonyx subvittatus Capiomont

Leaf beetles (Family Chrysomelidae)

Oval beetles with long antennae

     12. Dogbane beetle, Chrysochus auratus (Fabricius)

Dogbane beetle
Photo Credit:
Gerald M. Fauske, NDSU
Dogbane beetle, Chrysochus auratus (Fabricius)

     13. Northern corn rootworm beetle Diabrotica barberi Smith & Lawrence

Northern corn rootworm beetle
Photo Credit:
Gerald M. Fauske, NDSU
Northern corn rootworm beetle Diabrotica barberi Smith & Lawrence

Other Insects

Front wings at least partially membranous

     14. Green stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

Green stink bug
Photo Credit:
Gerald M. Fauske, NDSU
Green stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

     15. Blow fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Blow fly
Photo Credit:
Gerald M. Fauske, NDSU
Blow fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

     16. Cuckoo wasp (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae)

Cuckoo wasp
Photo Credit:
Gerald M. Fauske, NDSU
Cuckoo wasp (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae)

     17. Sweat bee (Hymenoptera: Halictidae)

Sweat bee
Photo Credit:
Gerald M. Fauske, NDSU
Sweat bee (Hymenoptera: Halictidae)

     18. Annual cicada (Hemiptera: Cicadidae)

Annual cicada
Photo Credit:
Gerald M. Fauske, NDSU
Annual cicada (Hemiptera: Cicadidae)

 

Extension

Printing is being supported by the Great Plains Diagnostic Network grant from a subcontract under the USDA-NIFA.

 

Great Plains Diagnostic Network Logo

NDSU encourages you to use and share this content, but please do so under the conditions of our Creative Commons license. You may copy, distribute, transmit and adapt this work as long as you give full attribution, don’t use the work for commercial purposes and share your resulting work similarly. For more information, visit www.ag.ndsu.edu/agcomm/creative-commons.

For more information on this and other topics, see www.ag.ndsu.edu

County commissions, North Dakota State University and U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. NDSU does not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of age, color, gender expression/identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, participation in lawful off-campus activity, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, public assistance status, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, spousal relationship to current employee, or veteran status, as applicable. Direct inquiries to Vice Provost for Title IX/ADA Coordinator, Old Main 201, NDSU Main Campus, 701-231-7708, ndsu.eoaa@ndsu.edu. This publication will be made available in alternative formats for people with disabilities upon request, 701-231-7881.

1M-5-23, 2.2M-6-18, 2M-2-12

1