Bark-beetle
Guides
Namunaria
Namunaria is a genus of cylindrical bark beetles in the family Zopheridae, established by Edmund Reitter in 1882. The genus contains at least two confirmed species in North America (N. guttulata and N. pacifica), with additional species reported from Australia, Asia, and other regions. These beetles are characterized by their cylindrical body form, an adaptation for living under bark. The genus belongs to the diverse group of bark beetles within Zopheridae, though specific biological details remain poorly documented for most species.
Namunaria pacifica
Namunaria pacifica is a species of cylindrical bark beetle in the family Zopheridae, first described by Horn in 1878. It is one of approximately 20 species in the genus Namunaria, which belongs to the tribe Synchitini. The species is found in western North America, with records from British Columbia, Canada. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with dead wood habitats.
Orthotomicus
Orthotomicus is a genus of bark beetles in the family Curculionidae, subfamily Scolytinae, containing approximately nine described species. The genus is primarily associated with coniferous trees, particularly pines (Pinus spp.) and cedars (Cedrus spp.). Several species, notably Orthotomicus erosus (Mediterranean pine engraver) and O. laricis, have become significant forest pests through native population outbreaks and invasive range expansions. Species in this genus are known for their associations with ophiostomatoid fungi, which they vector and which contribute to tree decline.
Orthotomicus caelatus
Carving Bark Beetle
Orthotomicus caelatus is a bark beetle species in the family Curculionidae, described by Wood and Bright in 1992. Like other members of the genus Orthotomicus, it is a wood-boring beetle associated with coniferous trees. The species has been documented in North America and Africa, though detailed ecological studies specific to this species remain limited. Its common name, "Carving Bark Beetle," reflects its feeding behavior beneath tree bark.
Orthotomicus erosus
Mediterranean pine engraver
Orthotomicus erosus, the Mediterranean pine engraver, is a bark beetle native to the Mediterranean region, southern Europe, Asia, and North Africa. It is primarily a secondary pest that colonizes stressed, weakened, or recently dead pine trees, but can reach outbreak levels and attack healthy trees during drought conditions or following fire. The species has expanded its range through domestic and international trade, with established populations in South America (Argentina and Uruguay) and South Africa. It vectors multiple ophiostomatoid fungi, including Ophiostoma ips, which contribute to blue staining and tree decline.
Orthotomicus latidens
Wide-toothed Bark Weevil
Orthotomicus latidens is a bark beetle species in the weevil family Curculionidae, subfamily Scolytinae. The species was described in 2001 and is known from North and Middle America. Like other scolytines, it is associated with wood-boring habits, though specific ecological details remain limited in published literature.
Orthotomicus spinifer
Orthotomicus spinifer is a bark beetle species in the family Curculionidae, subfamily Scolytinae, described by Cognato & Vogler in 2001. It is a member of the genus Orthotomicus, which contains several species of bark beetles that infest coniferous trees. The species is known from North America and, like other members of its genus, is associated with the phloem and cambium layers of trees.
Pagiocerus frontalis
Pagiocerus frontalis is an invasive bark beetle in the family Curculionidae, subfamily Scolytinae, native to Central and South America. First detected in Africa in December 2018 in Arusha, Tanzania, it has emerged as a significant pest of stored maize and avocado seeds. The beetle bores into grains, producing powdery frass and exit holes, and can perforate woven polypropylene storage bags. Laboratory studies in Tanzania demonstrated substantial damage across 27 maize varieties, with grain damage ranging from 42.5% to 92.5%. Its invasion pattern and damage potential resemble those of the larger grain borer (Prostephanus truncatus), which caused severe losses following its introduction to Africa.
Paha laticollis
cylindrical bark beetle
Paha laticollis is a species of cylindrical bark beetle in the family Zopheridae. It is found in North America. The species was described by LeConte in 1863. Limited information is available regarding its biology and ecology.
Passandridae
Parasitic Flat Bark Beetles
Passandridae, commonly called parasitic flat bark beetles, is a small family of beetles in the superfamily Cucujoidea. The family contains approximately 109 described species in nine genera. Adults are small to moderately sized beetles (3–35 mm) with heavily sclerotized bodies, typically brown or black in coloration. The family is notable for having larvae that are exclusively ectoparasitic on the immature stages of other beetles and Hymenoptera, making them one of very few beetle families with this lifestyle.
Pediacus depressus
flat bark beetle
Pediacus depressus is a species of flat bark beetle in the family Cucujidae. It is distributed across Europe and Northern Asia, excluding China. The species was first described by Herbst in 1797 (or 1794 in some sources) under the name Colydium depressum. As a member of the flat bark beetles, it is adapted to living under bark and in similar concealed habitats.
Pediacus fuscus
Pediacus fuscus is a species of flat bark beetle in the family Cucujidae. The species has a Holarctic distribution, occurring in Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. As a member of the Cucujidae, it belongs to a group of beetles adapted to living under bark and in decaying wood.
Phloeolaemus chamaeropis
lined flat bark beetle
Phloeolaemus chamaeropis is a species of lined flat bark beetle in the family Laemophloeidae. The species was first described by Schwarz in 1878 under the basionym Laemophloeus chamaeropis. It is recorded from North America. Members of Laemophloeidae are generally associated with dead or dying wood, where they feed on fungal hyphae.
Phloeosinini
Phloeosinini is a tribe of bark beetles within the subfamily Scolytinae, comprising at least 16 genera including the economically significant genus Phloeosinus. Members are wood-boring beetles primarily associated with conifer hosts across five families: Araucariaceae, Cupressaceae, Pinaceae, Podocarpaceae, and Taxaceae. The tribe includes species with invasive potential that are readily transported internationally via wood products and packaging materials.
Phloeosinus
cedar bark beetles, cypress bark beetles
Phloeosinus is a genus of bark beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) comprising at least 20 described species. Species in this genus are specialized on conifers in the family Cupressaceae, including genera such as Cupressus, Thuja, Juniperus, and Chamaecyparis. Several species have become significant invasive pests, causing economic damage to ornamental trees and forest ecosystems. The genus exhibits specialized chemical ecology, with species using host plant volatiles and pheromones for mate and host location.
Phloeosinus armatus
Phloeosinus armatus is a bark beetle in the subfamily Scolytinae, the largest species in its genus. Native to the Middle East and eastern Mediterranean, it has been introduced to Italy, Russia, and North America. The species colonizes Cupressus sempervirens (Mediterranean cypress), forming gallery systems on trunks and large branches. It acts as a vector for phytopathogenic fungi, including Seiridium cardinale, the agent of cypress canker disease.
Phloeosinus canadensis
northern cedar bark beetle
Phloeosinus canadensis, commonly known as the northern cedar bark beetle, is a species of crenulate bark beetle in the family Curculionidae. It is native to North America, with documented records from Canada (New Brunswick, Ontario, Québec) and the United States (Vermont). The species belongs to the genus Phloeosinus, a group of bark beetles associated with coniferous trees. As a member of the weevil family, it exhibits the characteristic elongated snout typical of Curculionidae.
Phloeosinus cupressi
cypress bark beetle
Phloeosinus cupressi is a crenulate bark beetle native to North America that has become invasive in Australia and New Zealand. It poses a serious threat to Cupressus trees and related conifers, with potential ecological and economic impacts globally. Climate change is projected to expand its suitable habitat northward by approximately 18% under RCP6.0 scenarios.
Phloeosinus dentatus
eastern juniper bark beetle, crenulate bark beetle
Phloeosinus dentatus is a bark beetle (Scolytinae) in the weevil family Curculionidae, commonly known as the eastern juniper bark beetle. It is native to North America and primarily associated with red cedar (Juniperus virginiana). The species serves as an important alternate host for hymenopterous parasitoids that also attack economically significant bark beetles, including the southern pine beetle and Ips spp.
Phloeosinus pini
Phloeosinus pini is a species of crenulate bark beetle in the family Curculionidae, described by J.M. Swaine in 1915. It is native to North America, with confirmed records from Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia) and the United States. As a bark beetle, it is associated with coniferous trees, though specific host associations and ecological details remain poorly documented in the accessible literature.
Phloeosinus punctatus
western cedar bark beetle
Phloeosinus punctatus is a bark beetle in the family Curculionidae, subfamily Scolytinae, known as the western cedar bark beetle. The species colonizes giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) and California incense-cedar (Calocedrus decurrens) in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. Females initiate gallery construction and mate monogamously. The beetle undergoes four larval instars, typically producing one generation per year under natural conditions. It has been observed to contribute to branch mortality in giant sequoia, particularly when trees are under environmental stress.
Phloeosinus scopulorum
Juniper Bark Weevil
Phloeosinus scopulorum is a bark beetle species in the family Curculionidae, first described by J.M. Swaine in 1924. The species is known from North America. Members of the genus Phloeosinus are commonly referred to as bark weevils and are associated with coniferous trees, particularly junipers.
Phloeosinus sequoiae
Redwood Bark Beetle
Phloeosinus sequoiae is a small bark beetle in the family Curculionidae, commonly known as the Redwood Bark Beetle. The species was described by Hopkins in 1903 and is associated with Sequoia and Sequoiadendron species. It belongs to a genus of crenulate bark beetles that tunnel beneath bark of conifers.
Phloeosinus serratus
juniper bark beetle
Phloeosinus serratus is a bark beetle in the family Curculionidae, commonly known as the juniper bark beetle. It has been documented attacking Cupressus lusitanica in Jamaica, representing a new host record for this species. The species occurs in North America, the Caribbean, and Middle America.
Phloeotribus
Phloeotribus is a genus of crenulate bark beetles in the family Curculionidae, comprising at least 150 described species. Species within this genus exhibit diverse host associations, with some specializing on olive (Olea europaea), others on stone fruits (Prunus spp.), and some on broom (Cytisus scoparius). The genus includes economically significant pests such as Phloeotribus scarabaeoides, which damages olive trees through feeding and breeding gallery construction. Reproductive systems vary among species, with both monogynous and bigynous mating systems documented.
Phloeotribus dentifrons
Phloeotribus dentifrons is a species of crenulate bark beetle described by Wood & Bright in 1992. It belongs to the genus Phloeotribus, a group of small beetles associated with woody plants. The species is recorded from North America, with confirmed presence in Ontario, Canada. Knowledge of this species is limited, with few documented observations.
Phloeotribus frontalis
crenulate bark beetle
Phloeotribus frontalis is a species of bark beetle in the family Curculionidae. It is distributed across North America and Middle America. The species belongs to the genus Phloeotribus, which comprises crenulate bark beetles. Information on specific biology and ecology of this species is limited in available sources.
Phloeotribus liminaris
Peach Bark Beetle
Phloeotribus liminaris, commonly known as the peach bark beetle, is a bark beetle species in the family Curculionidae. It has been documented colonizing black cherry trees (Prunus serotina) through chemically-mediated host location. The species is found in North America.
Phloeotribus piceae
Phloeotribus piceae is a species of crenulate bark beetle in the family Curculionidae, first described by J.M. Swaine in 1911. It is native to North America, with confirmed records from Canada including Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and New Brunswick. The species is associated with coniferous hosts, as suggested by its specific epithet referencing spruce (Picea).
Phloeotribus texanus
Phloeotribus texanus is a species of crenulate bark beetle in the family Curculionidae, described by C.F.A. Schaeffer in 1908. The species is known from North America and Middle America. As a member of the genus Phloeotribus, it is associated with bark beetle habits, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented in available sources.
Pityogenes
bark beetles
Pityogenes is a genus of bark beetles in the family Curculionidae, comprising over 30 described species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. Species in this genus are primarily associated with coniferous trees, with P. chalcographus being the most extensively studied due to its economic significance as a pest of Norway spruce. The genus exhibits typical scolytine characteristics including aggregation pheromone communication and specialized host-finding behaviors. Some species demonstrate notable geographic variation in morphology and genetics, suggesting population differentiation across their ranges.
Pityogenes bidentatus
Pityogenes bidentatus is a European bark beetle that colonizes Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). The species exhibits sophisticated olfactory-mediated behaviors for host location, including attraction to aggregation pheromone components (grandisol and cis-verbenol) and active avoidance of nonhost volatiles. Its behavioral response to monoterpene odors is context-dependent: avoidance occurs during flight but not during walking, likely representing distinct sensory mechanisms for long-range host discrimination versus short-range gallery establishment.
bark-beetleScolytinaePinus-sylvestrisaggregation-pheromoneolfactory-behaviorhost-selectionmonoterpene-avoidancecontext-dependent-plasticitynonhost-avoidancenorthern-Europegrandisolcis-verbenol1-octene-3-olβ-caryophylleneflight-behaviorwalking-behaviorelectroantennographypopulation-genetics-modelnematode-associationBursaphelenchus-pinophilusnematangiaCzech-Republicmixed-forestconifer-forestScots-pineNorway-sprucenonhost-volatileschemical-ecologyinsect-plant-interactionsherbivore-host-rangesensory-ecologybehavioral-plasticitypheromone-ecologyforest-entomologyinvasive-potential-(North-America-records)Pityogenes carinulatus
Pityogenes carinulatus is a small bark beetle in the weevil family Curculionidae, described by Wood & Bright in 1992. It belongs to the subfamily Scolytinae (true bark and ambrosia beetles), a group of economically significant forest pests. The species has been recorded in western North America including British Columbia, Canada, and parts of Middle America. Like other members of the genus Pityogenes, it is associated with coniferous trees.
Pityogenes fossifrons
Pityogenes fossifrons is a species of bark beetle in the weevil family Curculionidae, described by Wood & Bright in 1992. It belongs to the genus Pityogenes, a group of small scolytine beetles that colonize coniferous trees. The species is known from western North America, with confirmed records from British Columbia, Canada. Like other members of its genus, it likely functions as a primary or secondary bark beetle associated with pine hosts.
Pityogenes hopkinsi
chestnut-brown bark beetle
Pityogenes hopkinsi is a small bark beetle in the family Curculionidae, commonly known as the chestnut-brown bark beetle. It colonizes eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) and uses a three-component aggregation pheromone to coordinate mass attacks on host trees. The pheromone system involves sex-specific synergistic responses and male-produced inhibitory compounds that regulate attraction.
Pityogenes meridianus
Pityogenes meridianus is a small bark beetle in the family Curculionidae, subfamily Scolytinae. It was described by Blackman in 1921 and is provisionally accepted as a valid species. The genus Pityogenes comprises conifer-associated bark beetles, though species-level biology for P. meridianus remains poorly documented.
Pityogenes plagiatus
Pityogenes plagiatus is a bark beetle species in the family Curculionidae, described by Bright in 1976. The genus Pityogenes belongs to the tribe Ipini within the subfamily Scolytinae, a group of weevils specialized in tunneling under bark. Records indicate presence in North America, specifically Vermont, USA. Information regarding its biology and ecology remains limited in available sources.
Pityokteines
fir engraver beetles
Pityokteines is a genus of bark beetles (Scolytinae) known as fir engraver beetles. Species in this genus are significant pests of fir trees (Abies) and other conifers in the subfamily Abietoideae. Males initiate gallery construction and produce aggregation pheromones that regulate mass attack on host trees. The genus exhibits species-specific pheromone communication systems involving ipsenol and ipsdienol, which contribute to reproductive isolation among sympatric species.
Pityokteines ornatus
Pityokteines ornatus is a species of bark beetle in the family Curculionidae, subfamily Scolytinae. It was described by Wood in 1966. This species belongs to a genus of conifer-associated bark beetles that are significant forest pests in North America. The genus Pityokteines contains species that primarily infest fir trees (Abies spp.), with adults typically boring into the bark to create galleries where they lay eggs. The larvae develop within the phloem and cambium layers, potentially causing significant damage to host trees.
Pityokteines sparsus
Pityokteines sparsus is a species of bark beetle in the family Curculionidae, described by Wood & Bright in 1992. The species is known from scattered records across northern North America including the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Labrador. As a member of the genus Pityokteines, it is associated with coniferous hosts, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented. The limited number of observations suggests it may be uncommon or underrecorded.
Pityophthorina
Pityophthorina is a subtribe of ambrosia beetles within the tribe Xyleborini (subfamily Scolytinae, family Curculionidae). These beetles are characterized by their obligate mutualisms with ambrosia fungi, which they cultivate in wood galleries. The subtribe includes genera such as Pityophthorus, which are predominantly associated with coniferous hosts. Members are small, cylindrical bark beetles with reduced elytral declivity and specialized mycangia for transporting fungal spores.
Pityophthorus
Pityophthorus is a large genus of bark beetles in the family Curculionidae, containing more than 540 described species. The genus is characterized by its association with coniferous and hardwood host trees, with species distributed across North America, Europe, and other regions. Some species, such as P. juglandis (the walnut twig beetle), are significant forest pests that vector pathogenic fungi causing tree diseases.
Pityophthorus annectens
Pityophthorus annectens is a bark beetle species in the family Curculionidae, first described by LeConte in 1878. It is a member of the genus Pityophthorus, a large group of small bark beetles commonly known as twig beetles. The species has been documented in North America and Middle America. Specific ecological details regarding its host associations and biology remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Pityophthorus consimilis
Pityophthorus consimilis is a species of bark beetle in the family Curculionidae. It is native to North America and has been recorded from multiple Canadian provinces including Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia. Like other members of the genus Pityophthorus, it is a small, wood-boring beetle that colonizes tree phloem. Detailed ecological studies specific to this species are limited in the available literature.
Pityophthorus crinalis
Pityophthorus crinalis is a species of bark beetle in the family Curculionidae, described by Blackman in 1928. It belongs to the genus Pityophthorus, a group of small ambrosia and bark beetles primarily associated with coniferous and hardwood trees. The species is provisionally accepted in taxonomic databases with records indicating presence in North America. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with woody host plants, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Pityophthorus juglandis
Walnut Twig Beetle
Pityophthorus juglandis is an invasive bark beetle native to the southwestern United States and Mexico that vectors the fungal pathogen Geosmithia morbida, causing thousand cankers disease in walnut trees. The beetle measures approximately 1.5 mm in length and is among the few Pityophthorus species associated with hardwoods. Research has focused extensively on its chemical ecology, including the male-produced aggregation pheromone 3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol and potential semiochemical repellents for management. The species exhibits strong host discrimination during flight, preferentially landing on Juglans species while avoiding most non-host hardwoods.
Pityophthorus liquidambarus
Pityophthorus liquidambarus is a bark beetle species in the weevil family Curculionidae, described by Blackman in 1921. It belongs to the genus Pityophthorus, a group of small ambrosia beetles primarily associated with woody plants. Very little specific information is documented about this particular species compared to its congener Pityophthorus juglandis, which has been extensively studied as the vector of thousand cankers disease in walnuts.
Pityophthorus puberulus
A twig beetle in the subfamily Scolytinae, Pityophthorus puberulus is commonly associated with eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) in seed orchards. Field studies indicate it responds to the pheromone pityol, with attraction enhanced by the monoterpenes (-)-α-pinene and (-)-β-pinene. Its attraction is inhibited by S-(-)-limonene, suggesting this compound may function in host recognition and suitability assessment. The species has been documented as a bycatch in trapping programs targeting the white pine cone beetle, Conophthorus coniperda.
Pityophthorus setosus
Pityophthorus setosus is a species of bark beetle in the weevil family Curculionidae, described by Blackman in 1928. It belongs to the genus Pityophthorus, a group of small ambrosia and bark beetles commonly known as twig beetles. Very little specific biological or ecological information is available for this species in the provided sources. The genus Pityophthorus includes species that are associated with coniferous and hardwood trees, with some members known as significant forest pests.
Pityophthorus virilis
Pityophthorus virilis is a species of bark beetle in the weevil family Curculionidae, first described by Blackman in 1928. The genus Pityophthorus comprises small ambrosia beetles that primarily infest coniferous trees, though species-level biology for P. virilis remains poorly documented. Most congeneric species are associated with Pinus species and other conifers.