Our insect of the week for August 25, 2025, is Dicerca divaricata (Say, 1823) [COLEOPTERA: Buprestidae]. It is commonly called the flatheaded hardwood borer. It also belongs to the family commonly called metallic wood boring beetles (just like the beetle featured last week and the week prior). It is found in North America and is native to central Illinois.

The larvae often burrow just under the bark of various species of maples and elms. Adults emerge in May and June. This species is not commonly encountered. It was described by the American entomologist, Thomas Say in 1823.

The insect in this photograph was collected by Mark DuBois in Marshall County, Illinois using a Malaise trap. The image was generated by stacking multiple photos together to make this high resolution composite image.