Bark-beetle
Guides
Hylurgops palliatus
Hylurgops palliatus is a bark beetle in the family Curculionidae that colonizes coniferous trees, primarily spruce (Picea) and pine (Pinus) species. It is a secondary bark beetle, meaning it attacks weakened, dying, or recently dead trees rather than healthy ones. The species uses host-specific monoterpene chemical cues to locate and select appropriate host trees. It vectors various fungi, including ophiostomatoid species, which play roles in its ecology and tree colonization.
Hylurgops porosus
Hylurgops porosus is a species of bark beetle in the family Curculionidae, described by Wood & Bright in 1992. It belongs to the genus Hylurgops, a group of weevils associated with coniferous trees. The species is known from western Canada with records in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan. Very few observations exist in public databases, indicating it is either rare, cryptic, or under-recorded.
Hylurgops rugipennis
Hylurgops rugipennis is a small bark beetle in the weevil family Curculionidae, described by Mannerheim in 1843. It belongs to a genus associated with coniferous trees, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented. Records indicate presence in North America, but comprehensive study of its biology is limited.
Hylurgus
red-haired bark beetles
Hylurgus is a genus of bark beetles in the family Curculionidae, subfamily Scolytinae. The genus includes economically significant forestry pests, most notably Hylurgus ligniperda (red-haired bark beetle), which is native to Eurasia and has established invasive populations on multiple continents. Species in this genus are associated with coniferous hosts, particularly Pinus species, and maintain complex symbiotic relationships with fungi and bacteria that facilitate host colonization and environmental adaptation.
Hylurgus ligniperda
Goldenhaired Bark Beetle, Red-haired Bark Beetle
Hylurgus ligniperda is an invasive bark beetle native to Europe that has established populations across multiple continents. It is a significant forest pest primarily associated with pine trees (Pinus spp.), where it colonizes roots and lower trunk sections. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in acoustic communication: males produce stridulatory sounds during courtship and disturbance, while females are silent. Its invasion success is facilitated by symbiotic relationships with ophiostomatoid fungi and diverse bacterial communities that assist with host adaptation, detoxification of plant secondary metabolites, and tolerance to environmental temperature fluctuations.
Hypoborini
Hypoborini is a tribe of small bark beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) established by Nüsslin in 1912. Recent molecular and morphological revision of the Afrotropical fauna revealed substantial undescribed diversity, including three new genera and seven new species. The tribe comprises two subtribes in the Afrotropical region: Xerasiborina (Xerasiborus, Nisiborus, tentatively Glochiphorus) and Hypoborina (Dacryostactus, Styracoptinus, Afrotrypetus, Corditarsus). Related Palearctic genera Hypoborus and Liparthrum occur in Mediterranean and Macaronesian regions. Phylogenetic analyses indicate an early Palaeocene origin with ancestral area split between Asia/Africa and Madagascar, followed by single colonization of Madagascar and subsequent recolonization of the African mainland.
Hypothenemus
Hypothenemus is a genus of bark beetles in the family Curculionidae containing more than 200 described species. The genus is most diverse in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, with reduced representation in temperate areas of eastern North America and eastern Asia. Members are minute beetles, ranging from 0.6 mm to 2.2 mm in length, with males consistently smaller than females. The genus includes several economically significant species, most notably H. hampei (coffee berry borer), which is considered the most destructive insect pest of coffee globally.
Hypothenemus atomus
Hypothenemus atomus is a small weevil species in the family Curculionidae, first described by Hopkins in 1915. It belongs to a genus that includes several economically significant bark beetles, most notably the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei). The species has been recorded in Brazil, specifically in the states of Mato Grosso do Sul, Santa Catarina, and São Paulo. Information regarding its biology, ecology, and economic impact remains limited compared to better-studied congeners.
Hypothenemus crudiae
Hypothenemus crudiae is a species of bark beetle in the family Curculionidae. It has been documented in North America, Europe, and parts of South America and Africa. As a member of the genus Hypothenemus, it belongs to a group of small ambrosia beetles that bore into wood and plant material.
Hypothenemus exiguus
Hypothenemus exiguus is a species of small bark beetle in the family Curculionidae. The species was originally described as Trischidias exigua by Wood in 1986 and is currently recognized as a synonym under the genus Hypothenemus. It has been recorded from Middle America and North America, including the conterminous 48 United States. Little specific information is available regarding its biology or ecology compared to better-known congeners such as the coffee berry borer (H. hampei).
Hypothenemus georgiae
Hypothenemus georgiae is a small bark beetle species in the weevil family Curculionidae, originally described as Trischidias georgiae by Hopkins in 1915. The species belongs to the genus Hypothenemus, which includes several economically significant pests of agricultural crops, most notably the coffee berry borer (H. hampei). Little specific information is documented about the biology or ecology of H. georgiae compared to its congener H. hampei.
Hypothenemus obscurus
apple twig beetle, tropical nut borer
Hypothenemus obscurus is a small scolytine bark beetle in the family Curculionidae. It is known by two common names: "apple twig beetle" in North America and "tropical nut borer" in tropical regions. The species attacks several crops including macadamia nut and coffee, and has been documented developing on artificial diets of both macadamia and coffee. Its life cycle from egg to adult has been estimated at approximately 28.5 days under laboratory conditions. The species is native to tropical regions and has been introduced to North America.
Iphthiminus
Iphthiminus is a genus of darkling beetles in the family Tenebrionidae, subfamily Tenebrioninae. The genus contains at least four described species distributed in North America. Members are primarily associated with coniferous forests, where they inhabit decaying wood and feed on fungal resources. They are nocturnal and have been observed on the trunks and stumps of recently fallen or cut pines.
Ips
Engraver beetles, Ips engraver beetles, Pine engravers
Ips is a genus of bark beetles in the family Curculionidae, subfamily Scolytinae. Species are distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere, with some introduced to Australia and Africa. Many species are forest pests, particularly of pines and spruces. They are commonly known as engraver beetles due to the distinctive gallery patterns their larvae carve beneath bark.
Ips avulsus
Small Southern Pine Engraver
Ips avulsus, the small southern pine engraver, is a bark beetle in the family Curculionidae. It colonizes pine hosts, primarily attacking the lower bole of stressed or damaged trees. The species uses a pheromone blend of ipsdienol and lanierone for aggregation, with responses to semiochemicals influenced by context and spatial arrangement. It cohabits trees with other Ips species and Dendroctonus frontalis, showing differential attack height partitioning.
Ips borealis
Northern Engraver Beetle
Ips borealis is a bark beetle species in the family Curculionidae, commonly known as the Northern Engraver Beetle. It is found in North America, with records from Canadian provinces including Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and New Brunswick. As a member of the genus Ips, it belongs to a group of beetles known as engraver beetles that tunnel beneath tree bark, creating distinctive gallery patterns. The species was described by J.M. Swaine in 1911.
Ips calligraphus
six-spined engraver beetle, six-spined ips, coarsewriting engraver
Ips calligraphus is a bark beetle in the family Curculionidae, commonly known as the six-spined engraver beetle. It is distributed across North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, where it primarily colonizes Pinus species. The species is notable for its six-spined declivity (posterior slope) used in identification, its complex gallery system with radiating egg galleries from a central nuptial chamber, and its potential to cause tree mortality during outbreaks. It has been recorded from over 20 U.S. states and several Caribbean islands including Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.
Ips confusus
pinyon pine beetle, pinyon ips, pinyon engraver beetle
Ips confusus is a bark beetle in the family Curculionidae, commonly known as the pinyon pine beetle or pinyon ips. It is a significant pest of pinyon pine (Pinus edulis) and ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) in the southwestern United States and Mexico. The beetle colonizes stressed or weakened trees, creating galleries beneath the bark where larvae feed on phloem tissues. Population outbreaks can cause extensive tree mortality, particularly during drought conditions.
Ips emarginatus
Emarginate Ips
Ips emarginatus is a bark beetle species in the family Curculionidae, described by Wood and Bright in 1992. It belongs to the genus Ips, commonly known as engraver beetles, which are characterized by distinctive spines on the posterior declivity of the elytra. The species name 'emarginatus' refers to a notched or indented feature, likely describing a morphological characteristic of this beetle. Like other Ips species, it is associated with coniferous trees and plays a role in forest ecosystem dynamics.
Ips grandicollis
eastern five-spined engraver, eastern five-spined ips, southern pine engraver, fivespined engraver
Ips grandicollis is a bark beetle in the family Curculionidae, commonly known as the eastern five-spined engraver or southern pine engraver. The species is native to North America and has been introduced to Australia. It primarily colonizes Pinus species, attacking weakened, stressed, or recently felled trees rather than healthy standing timber. Males initiate gallery construction and produce aggregation pheromones to attract multiple females. The species has reached economic importance in some regions, including Jamaican pine plantations, where it can kill trees when populations aggregate on living hosts.
Ips lecontei
Arizona Five-Spined Ips
Ips lecontei is a bark beetle species in the weevil family Curculionidae, first described by J.M. Swaine in 1924. It belongs to the genus Ips, a group commonly known as engraver beetles due to the distinctive gallery patterns their larvae create beneath tree bark. The species is distributed in North America and Middle America. Like other Ips species, it is associated with coniferous trees, though specific ecological details for this species remain limited in published literature.
Ips paraconfusus
California fivespined ips, California fivespined ip
Ips paraconfusus is a bark beetle species native to western North America, notable as the first bark beetle from which a pheromone was identified in 1967. Males produce aggregation pheromones ipsenol and ipsdienol primarily through de novo biosynthesis, with minor contribution from host-tree myrcene conversion. The species colonizes various pine species, with strong preference for ponderosa pine over non-host trees such as white fir.
Ips perturbatus
Northern Spruce Engraver
Ips perturbatus, the northern spruce engraver, is a bark beetle in the family Curculionidae (subfamily Scolytinae) that colonizes spruce trees (Picea spp.) across northern North America. It is primarily associated with white spruce (Picea glauca) and typically breeds on trees already killed or weakened by other agents, though it can attack stressed living trees. The species has one generation per year in most of its range, with adults overwintering in the ground. Males initiate galleries and attract 1–4 females to form harems; females construct egg tunnels averaging 10 cm in length and lay approximately 49 eggs each. The species is notable for its associations with ophiostomatoid fungi, particularly Leptographium fruticetum, which may play a role in its ecology.
Ips pilifrons sulcifrons
Ips pilifrons sulcifrons is a subspecies of bark beetle in the family Curculionidae (subfamily Scolytinae). It is a member of the Ips genus, commonly known as engraver beetles, which are characterized by the distinctive gallery patterns they create beneath tree bark. This subspecies was described by Wood in 1960. Like other Ips species, it is associated with coniferous trees and plays a role in forest ecosystem dynamics.
Ips plastographus
California pine engraver, Forgery Bark Weevil
Ips plastographus, commonly known as the California pine engraver, is a bark beetle in the weevil family Curculionidae. It is native to western North America and primarily associated with pine hosts, particularly lodgepole pine. New adult beetles have been documented overwintering in short tunnels within the sapwood of windfelled trees. The species is provisionally accepted in taxonomic databases and has limited published natural history documentation.
Ips tridens
Western Engraver
Ips tridens is a bark beetle species in the family Curculionidae, subfamily Scolytinae, first described by Wood in 1982. It is commonly known as the Western Engraver. The species is distributed across northern North America, with records from Alberta, British Columbia, the Northern Territories, and Yukon Territory in Canada. Like other Ips species, it is associated with coniferous trees and belongs to a genus known for creating distinctive gallery patterns beneath bark.
Ips woodi
Wood's Bark Weevil
Ips woodi is a bark beetle species in the family Curculionidae, described by T.O. Thatcher in 1965. The species is found in North America, with confirmed records from Alberta, Canada. Like other members of the genus Ips, it is associated with coniferous trees, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented. The species is distinguished from congeners by subtle morphological features, particularly in the arrangement of spines on the elytral declivity.
Laemophloeus
Laemophloeus is the type genus of the family Laemophloeidae, containing 28 valid species following modern taxonomic revision. Species are moderate to large for the family (2–4 mm). The genus occurs in the Palaearctic and Nearctic realms, extending into tropical regions of the New World. Several species are significant pests of stored grain and cereal products.
Laemophloeus biguttatus
Two-spotted Flat Bark Beetle
Laemophloeus biguttatus is a species of lined flat bark beetle in the family Laemophloeidae. The species is distributed across Central America and North America, with records extending to British Columbia. As a member of Laemophloeidae, it belongs to a group commonly known as flat bark beetles due to their dorsoventrally compressed bodies adapted for living under bark.
Laemophloeus shastanus
lined flat bark beetle
Laemophloeus shastanus is a species of lined flat bark beetle in the family Laemophloeidae. It is a small beetle associated with bark habitats. The species is found in North America. Published records indicate it has been observed at least six times.
Lasconotus intricatus
Intricate Ironclad Beetle
Lasconotus intricatus is a cylindrical bark beetle in the family Zopheridae, found in North America. It is attracted to the aggregation pheromone of the four-eyed spruce bark beetle, Polygraphus rufipennis, suggesting a close ecological association with this bark beetle species. The beetle shows temporal synchrony with P. rufipennis in spring and summer activity patterns.
Lasconotus vegrandis
Lasconotus vegrandis is a species of cylindrical bark beetle in the family Zopheridae, first described by George Henry Horn in 1885. It belongs to a genus characterized by compact, cylindrical body forms adapted for life under bark. The species has been documented in western North America, with records from British Columbia. Like other members of its family, it is presumed to inhabit dead or decaying wood, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Lathropus rhabdophloeoides
Lathropus rhabdophloeoides is a species of small, flattened beetle in the family Laemophloeidae, commonly known as lined flat bark beetles. Species in this genus are associated with dead or decaying wood and bark, where they inhabit the concealed spaces beneath bark surfaces. The specific epithet 'rhabdophloeoides' suggests a resemblance to the genus Rhabdophloeus, a related laemophloeid genus. Like other members of Laemophloeidae, this species is likely cryptic in habit and difficult to detect without specialized collecting methods.
Lymantor decipiens
Deceptive Bark Beetle
Lymantor decipiens is a species of bark beetle in the weevil family Curculionidae, described by Wood & Bright in 1992. It is a small wood-boring beetle native to eastern North America. The species is known from scattered records in Canada, with observations documented in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Québec. As a member of the genus Lymantor, it is associated with coniferous or deciduous tree hosts, though specific host relationships remain poorly documented.
Magdalis lecontei superba
Magdalis lecontei superba is a subspecies of weevil in the family Curculionidae. The genus Magdalis comprises bark and ambrosia beetles, with species typically associated with woody plants. The subspecific epithet 'superba' suggests this form may exhibit distinctive morphological features compared to the nominate subspecies. However, specific information regarding this particular subspecies is extremely limited in available literature.
Margaiostus grandicollis
Fivespined engraver beetle
Margaiostus grandicollis is a bark beetle species historically known as the fivespined engraver. The species has been reclassified from the genus Ips to Margaiostus within the family Elateridae, though it was long treated as a member of Curculionidae (Scolytinae). It attacks coniferous trees, particularly pines, and has been documented in eastern North America. The species is known for its gallery-building behavior beneath bark and its association with stressed or dying trees.
Medetera
Woodpecker Flies
Medetera is a large genus of predatory long-legged flies (family Dolichopodidae) comprising approximately 350 species worldwide. Adults are commonly found resting on vertical surfaces, particularly tree trunks, where they adopt a characteristic upright stance that has earned them the common name "woodpecker flies." Adults prey on soft-bodied arthropods, while larvae develop as predators within bark beetle galleries, feeding on eggs, larvae, pupae, and newly emerged adults. Several species have been studied as potential biocontrol agents for forest pest management.
Megataphrus arizonicus
Megataphrus arizonicus is a species of cylindrical bark beetle in the family Zopheridae, first described by Stephan in 1989. The species is known from North America, with the specific epithet suggesting an association with Arizona. As a member of the cylindrical bark beetles, it belongs to a group adapted for life under bark and in wood-decaying habitats.
Micracis
Micracis is a genus of bark beetles in the family Curculionidae, established by LeConte in 1868. The genus contains over 60 described species. Members are small weevils that inhabit woody substrates and are associated with phloem-feeding habits common to bark beetle lineages.
Micracis lignator
Micracis lignator is a species of weevil in the family Curculionidae, described by Blackman in 1928. The genus Micracis belongs to a group of bark beetles, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented. It occurs in Middle and North America. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with woody plants, though direct observations are limited.
Micracis swainei
Micracis swainei is a bark beetle in the weevil family Curculionidae, described by Blackman in 1920. The species occurs in North America, with records from Canada (Ontario), the United States, the Caribbean, and Middle America. As a member of the subfamily Scolytinae, it is presumed to be associated with woody plants, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Micracisella
Micracisella is a genus of bark beetles in the family Curculionidae, established by M.W. Blackman in 1928. The genus contains at least 20 described species. Like other bark beetles, members of this genus are likely associated with woody plants, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented. The genus is part of the diverse weevil family and shares the characteristic rostrum of Curculionidae.
Micracisella nanula
Micracisella nanula is a species of weevil in the family Curculionidae, subfamily Corthylinae, described by Wood & Bright in 1992. The genus Micracisella comprises small bark beetles associated with coniferous hosts. This species is recorded from the Caribbean and North America, though specific details of its biology and ecology remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Micracisella opacithorax
Micracisella opacithorax is a bark beetle species in the family Curculionidae, described by Wood & Bright in 1992. It is distributed across North America and Middle America. As a member of the typical bark beetle group, it is associated with woody plants, though specific host relationships remain undocumented in available sources.
Microprius rufulus
cylindrical bark beetle
Microprius rufulus is a small cylindrical bark beetle in the family Zopheridae, measuring approximately 3.2 mm in length. The species has a broad native distribution spanning tropical Africa, northern Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, with introduced populations established in Germany, Cuba, USA, Malta, and the Cayman Islands. It is typically found under tree bark and exhibits attraction to light.
Monarthrum
Monarthrum is a genus of bark beetles in the family Curculionidae, containing approximately five described species. These beetles are associated with dying and dead wood, particularly oak, and exhibit ambrosia beetle characteristics including attraction to host volatiles and potential fungal symbiosis. The genus has been studied for its chemical ecology, with specific compounds identified as attractants for monitoring purposes.
Monarthrum fasciatum
Yellow-vested Timber Beetle
Monarthrum fasciatum is a small bark beetle in the family Curculionidae, commonly known as the Yellow-vested Timber Beetle. It develops in dying and dead oak trees and produces three generations annually in Missouri. The species has been studied for its life history and gallery construction, with females outnumbering males approximately 2:1. No association has been found between this beetle and oak wilt disease.
Monarthrum mali
apple wood stainer
Monarthrum mali, commonly known as the apple wood stainer, is a bark beetle species in the family Curculionidae. It is recognized as a pest of apple trees, where it causes distinctive staining of wood tissue. The species has been documented in North America, including Canada and the Caribbean region.
Mychocerus discretus
Mychocerus discretus is a minute bark beetle in the family Cerylonidae. It was originally described as Lapethus discretus by Casey in 1890. The species is native to North America, with records from British Columbia, Canada. It is a rarely observed species with few documented occurrences.
Myrmecoderus
Myrmecoderus is a genus of narrow-waisted bark beetles in the family Salpingidae. The genus contains three described species: M. dominicensis, M. laevipennis, and M. rileyi. These beetles are characterized by their constricted waist between the pronotum and elytra, a trait that distinguishes them from other beetle groups. The genus was formally described in 2005.