Coarsewriting Engraver

Ips calligraphus

Classification

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Ips calligraphus: //ɪps kæˈlɪɡrəfəs//

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

Images

Ips calligraphus crop by USDA Forest Service - Ashville Archive, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org. Used under a CC BY 3.0 license.
Ips calligraphus by USDA Forest Service - Ashville Archive, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org. Used under a CC BY 3.0 license.
Sixspined Ips - Ips calligraphus (50164953247) by Christina Butler from Georgia, United States. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.
Ips calligraphus pupa by Erich G. Vallery, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org. Used under a CC BY 3.0 license.

Summary

Ips calligraphus, or the coarsewriting engraver, is a bark beetle known for its etchings on tree bark and economic impact on timber industries in North America.

Physical Characteristics

Small beetle with characteristic coarse writing patterns on the surface of the bark they inhabit.

Identification Tips

Look for the distinctive six spines on the elytra.

Habitat

Found in forests, particularly in infested or dying trees.

Distribution

Found across North America, particularly common in Northeastern regions.

Diet

Feeds primarily on the cambium layer of conifer trees.

Life Cycle

The life cycle may be completed in 25 days in warmer climates.

Reproduction

May produce 6 or more generations per year depending on environmental conditions.

Ecosystem Role

Acts as both a decomposer and pest; facilitates the breakdown of dead trees.

Economic Impact

Can have significant impacts on forestry due to tree infestation and subsequent mortality.

Collecting Methods

  • Trapping using pheromone lures
  • Visual inspection of infested trees

Preservation Methods

  • Preservation in alcohol
  • Pinned collection for taxonomic study

Misconceptions

Often mistaken for other bark beetles; not all bark beetles are pests.

Tags

  • Ips calligraphus
  • Coarsewriting engraver
  • Bark beetle
  • Curculionidae
  • Scolytinae