#ptosima

📍 Location: Durham, North Carolina 🗓 Date: May 4, 2025 🐾 Media: Image 🌿 Species: Redbud Borer (Ptosima gibbicollis) 📝 Notes: Metallic wood-boring beetle associated primarily with eastern redbud and related hardwood trees. Adults are compact and brightly colored, often showing orange-red patterning that stands out against bark and foliage.

Larvae develop beneath bark and within wood, creating characteristic tunnels as they feed. Adults are typically active during warmer months and may be found resting on trunks, branches, or nearby vegetation.