Pityogenes bidentatus

(Herbst, 1783)

Pityogenes bidentatus is a European bark beetle that colonizes Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). The exhibits sophisticated olfactory-mediated for location, including attraction to components (grandisol and cis-verbenol) and active avoidance of nonhost volatiles. Its behavioral response to monoterpene odors is context-dependent: avoidance occurs during but not during , likely representing distinct sensory mechanisms for long-range host discrimination versus short-range gallery establishment.

Pityogenes bidentatus by (c) Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas. Used under a CC-BY license.

The coleoptera of the British Islands BHL22446312 by Fowler, William Weekes. Used under a Public domain license.

Pityogenes bidentatus (Herbst, 1783) male lateral (12480441954) by Udo Schmidt from Deutschland. Used under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Pityogenes bidentatus: /ˌpɪtiˈɒdʒɪniːz bɪˈdɛntətəs/

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Images

Habitat

Mixed conifer and deciduous forests; specifically associated with Scots pine stands

Distribution

Native to Europe; recorded from northern Europe including the Czech Republic; GBIF records indicate presence in Europe, Africa, and North America though native range is European

Host Associations

Pinus sylvestris - primary Suitable for feeding and
Picea abies - marginal nonhostSupports marginal laboratory ; avoided in field
Sorbus aucuparia - nonhostVolatiles reduce attraction
Quercus robur - nonhostVolatiles reduce attraction
Frangula alnus - nonhostVolatiles reduce attraction
Vaccinium myrtillus - nonhostVolatiles reduce attraction
Rubus idaeus - nonhostVolatiles reduce attraction
Deschampsia flexuosa - nonhostVolatiles reduce attraction

Behavior

When flying toward , both sexes avoid conifer monoterpene odors at natural release rates; this avoidance is absent when in laboratory assays. Attraction to aggregation pheromone components grandisol and cis-verbenol is significantly reduced by volatiles from nonhost plants including mountain ash, oak, alder buckthorn, blueberry, raspberry, and grass. Electroantennographic responses have been documented to 1-octene-3-ol and β-caryophyllene from nonhost odors.