Danielle discovered this stunning (and incredibly cool!) beetle at Council Grove State Park, near the logs in the second photo. Our staff had never seen this beetle before and were jealous, in a light-hearted, bug geek kind of way. Metallic wood-boring beetles are commonly called “jewel beetles” because of their shiny, iridescent colors. This particular “jewel” ranges from western North America to Quebec (California-Texas-Quebec-British Columbia). Larvae bore into and develop mainly in dead or dying cottonwoods (mostly near riparian areas). 

Size: 12 – 20 mm  

Photos by: Danielle on 8/4/22 near Missoula, MT