Dryocoetes betulae

Hopkins, 1915

birch bark beetle

Dryocoetes betulae is a bark beetle in the weevil Curculionidae, commonly known as the birch bark beetle. It is a secondary colonizer that specializes in weakened, dying, or dead birch trees rather than attacking healthy . The has been documented in paper birch forests of northern Idaho and across North America from Alberta to Newfoundland.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Dryocoetes betulae: //ˌdraɪ.əˈsiːtiːz ˈbɛtjʊli//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Habitat

Paper birch (Betula papyrifera) forests; specifically colonizes weakened, dying, or dead trees rather than healthy trees.

Distribution

North America; recorded from Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland (Canada), and northern Idaho (USA).

Host Associations

  • Betula papyrifera - breeds in weakened, dying, or dead treespaper birch; primary documented in northern Idaho study

Behavior

Secondary colonizer of weakened, dying, or dead paper birch; does not attack healthy trees.

Ecological Role

Contributes to decomposition of weakened, dying, or dead paper birch as a secondary bark beetle.

Tags

Sources and further reading