Which beetle family is known as metallic wood-boring beetles?

• A. Scarabaeidae
• B. Passalidae
• C. Buprestidae
• D. Elateridae

Answer: (C)

Metallic wood-boring beetles are best described by a family known for bright, shiny, metallic coloration and larvae that bore into wood. This combination defines the jewel beetles, family Buprestidae. Their adults often glisten with iridescent colors, while the larvae—flatheaded borers—tunnel through wood, sometimes causing significant damage to trees. A well-known example is the emerald ash borer, a jewel beetle that has become famous as an invasive pest. Other beetle families listed don’t share this distinctive pairing: Scarabaeidae are mostly dung or scarab beetles, not defined by wood-boring habits or metallic coloration; Passalidae are horned bess beetles associated with decaying wood but not known for a metallic sheen; Elateridae are click beetles with a different typical appearance and life habit.