Bug FAQHickory Jewel Beetle
Dicerca lurida · Order: Coleoptera · Family: Buprestidae
The Hickory Jewel Beetle is a black beetle about 12 to 20 mm long. Adults are seen flying and sunning on tree trunks and logs in April and May. Its life cycle lasts at least three years.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
It is a black beetle belonging to the subfamily Chrysochroinae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults measure between 12 and 20 mm (0.47 to 0.79 in) in length.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
They fly and sun themselves on tree trunks and logs.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
The species’ life stage spans at least three years.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are active during April and May.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 32 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Vermont, Texas, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Florida, West Virginia, Georgia, Virginia.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When are Hickory Jewel Beetles active?
Adults are active and can be seen flying in April and May.
Source: Wikipedia
How long does the Hickory Jewel Beetle live?
Its life cycle lasts at least three years.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Buprestidae)
Emerald Ash BorerAgrilus planipennisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Sculptured Pine BorerChalcophora virginiensisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Golden Buprestid BeetleBuprestis aurulenta
Anthaxia nitidulaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Western Sculptured Pine BorerChalcophora angulicollis
Anthaxia quadripunctataSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dicerca_lurida
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-24.