The term wood boring beetle encompasses many species of beetles whose larval or adult forms eat and destroy wood.
There are a number of wood boring beetles that attack a wide diversity of plants growing in our landscapes. They can be categorized as either beetles or clear wing moths. Both have larvae that tunnel and feed within the plant tissue. Wood boring beetles can kill plants directly due to feeding within the phloem tissue, which reduces the plants ability to obtain nutrients.
The photo taken is of a “golden buprestid.” Golden buprestid beetles are an iridescent shiny greenish color about 1.3 cm long. They produce 0.6 cm oval holes in the wood when they emerge.