Agrilus anxius Gory 1841

The bronze birch borer, Agrilus anxius, is a beetle from the family Buprestidae whose larvae cause great damage to birch species (Betula) by feeding on the bark and cambium of the tree. Tunneling resulting from larval infestations block nutrient and sap flow from leaves to tree roots, and trees with infestations show yellow leaves and dieback starting at the top of the tree, which if unchecked, progresses downward until the tree succumbs. The bronze birch borer is native to North America, where it attacks all species of birch trees, however, indigenous American species, including paper birch (Betula papyrifera Marshall), 'Whitespire' gray birch Betula populifolia Marshall), and river birch (Betula nigra ), survive colonization of bronze birch borers far more successfully than European and Asian natives (European white birch Betula pendula Roth; downy birch Betula pubescens Ehrh.; monarch birch Betula maximowicziana Regel; and Szechuan white birch Betula szechuanica Jansson). This implies that A. anxius would pose a strong threat to birch populations if it were inadvertently introduced into Europe or Asia (such as through imported wood chips, which are commonly traded for biofuel production). Agrilus anxius larvae are small enough to survive chipping, and it is recommended that contaminated wood be burned to reduce spread of this pest.


(European and Mediterranean plant protection organization 2011; Barter 1957; Wikipedia 2008)

Agrilus anxius, the bronze birch borer, is a wood-boring buprestid beetle native to North America, more numerous in warmer parts of the continent and rare in the north. It is a serious pest on birch trees (Betula), frequently killing them. The river birch Betula nigra is the most resistant species, other American birches less so, while the European and Asian birches have no resistance to it at all and are effectively impossible to grow in the eastern United States as a result.

It is closely related to the emerald ash borer.