A beautiful bug..?

Hi. This landed in our Victoria garden yesterday and Wow! what a gorgeous insect (about 3/4" long). Never seen one like it, except in the Tropics. Took the pics before it took flight. Any idea what it is? -thanks

 

I have seen these occasionally here for yours. Liable to be a borer.

 

Look this one up GardenPath - Golden Bupestrid, Jewel Beetle Cypriacis aurulenta. Hope I've spelled all that correctly. That will give you an intoduction. They don't seem to be much of a problem. That site also has lots of other neat beetles. barb

 

Thanks for your id and tip, Barbara.
Wayne, in Saanich

 

>They don't seem to be much of a problem<

This species is the most damaging in its genus. Larvae have been known to take 30 years to complete their development in structural timbers. The emergence holes sometimes penetrate roofing materials which results in leakages. The Orpheum Theater in Vancouver was water damaged after "bargin priced" roofing timbers, cut from trees salvaged from the Taylor River fire on Vancouver Island, produced a large number of adult beetles which bored straight through the tar roof.

http://www.forestry.ubc.ca/fetch21/FRST308/lab7/buprestis_aurulenta/golden.html