Bark-beetle
Guides
Placonotus modestus
lined flat bark beetle
Placonotus modestus is a species of lined flat bark beetle in the family Laemophloeidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1827 under the basionym Cucujus modestus. The species is distributed across the Caribbean, Central America, and North America. Like other members of Laemophloeidae, it is associated with bark habitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented in published literature.
Placonotus nitens
lined flat bark beetle
Placonotus nitens is a species of lined flat bark beetle in the family Laemophloeidae, first described by LeConte in 1854. It is a member of the genus Placonotus, which comprises beetles adapted to living under bark. The species is known from North America, where it inhabits forested environments.
Placonotus zimmermanni
Zimmermann's lined flat bark beetle
Placonotus zimmermanni is a species of lined flat bark beetle in the family Laemophloeidae. It is found in North America. The species was originally described as Laemophloeus zimmermanni by LeConte in 1854. As a member of the Laemophloeidae, it belongs to a group of beetles commonly known as lined flat bark beetles, which inhabit spaces under bark and in decaying wood.
Polygraphus
four-eyed fir bark beetles, polygraphus bark beetles
Polygraphus is a genus of bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in the tribe Polygraphini. Species in this genus are phloephagous, feeding on the inner bark of coniferous trees, particularly fir (Abies) and spruce (Picea). The genus includes both native and invasive species, with Polygraphus proximus being the most economically significant due to its invasive spread across Russia and mass mortality impacts on fir forests. Members exhibit monogynous mating systems and produce species-specific stridulatory signals.
Polygraphus rufipennis
Four-eyed Spruce Bark Beetle
Polygraphus rufipennis is a phloeophagous bark beetle restricted to Abietineae hosts in northern and mountainous areas of North America. It completes one generation annually with spring and summer broods, developing from egg to adult in approximately two months. Males produce a highly volatile aggregation pheromone (3-methyl-3-buten-1-ol) that attracts both sexes, with females generally exhibiting stronger responses. The species colonizes both felled and standing trees, with attack densities varying by tree condition and bark characteristics.
Procryphalus
Procryphalus is a genus of bark beetles in the family Curculionidae, established by Hopkins in 1915. The genus comprises seven described species distributed in North America. Species in this genus are associated with woody host plants including maple, ash, poplar, and willow.
Procryphalus utahensis
Procryphalus utahensis is a bark beetle species in the family Curculionidae, subfamily Scolytinae. It was described by Hopkins in 1915 and is distributed across North America, with records from Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Québec) and the United States (Alaska). Like other bark beetles, it likely develops in the phloem of woody plants, though specific host associations remain poorly documented.
Pseudips
Pseudips is a genus of bark beetles in the family Curculionidae, subfamily Scolytinae. The genus includes species native to western North America and Central America that primarily attack pine trees (Pinus species). The best-documented species, Pseudips mexicanus, is a secondary bark beetle that colonizes stressed or weakened pine hosts. Research on this species in British Columbia has documented its polygynous mating system and univoltine life cycle in northern populations.
Pseudips radiatae
Pseudips radiatae is a species of weevil in the family Curculionidae. The genus Pseudips is associated with conifer hosts, and the species epithet 'radiatae' suggests an association with Pinus radiata (Monterey pine). Very few observations exist, indicating it is either rare, poorly documented, or restricted in range.
Pseudocorticus blairi
Pseudocorticus blairi is a species of cylindrical bark beetle in the family Zopheridae, subfamily Colydiinae. Described by Hinton in 1935, this species belongs to a genus of small, elongate beetles associated with dead wood habitats. The genus Pseudocorticus occurs in Middle America, with this species recorded from the region. As with many colydiine beetles, detailed biological information remains limited.
Pseudohylesinus
Pseudohylesinus is a genus of crenulate bark beetles (family Curculionidae) comprising at least 20 described species. Members are small, slender beetles (approximately 2.8 mm length) associated with coniferous trees in western North America. The genus includes economically notable species such as the Douglas-fir hylesinus (P. nebulosus), which attacks Douglas-fir and related hosts. Species in this genus exhibit distinctive reproductive behaviors including acoustic signaling and primary attraction to host volatiles rather than pheromone-mediated aggregation.
Pseudohylesinus grandis
Pseudohylesinus grandis is a bark beetle (Curculionidae, formerly Scolytidae) associated with western hemlock forests of coastal North America. It completes one generation annually with two broods and four larval instars, overwintering as a teneral adult. The species exhibits distinct breeding habitat preferences, utilizing fresh slash in thinned stands rather than stumps. Adult females engage in pre-oviposition feeding on the inner bark of standing live host trees before constructing egg galleries in slash material.
Pseudohylesinus granulatus
Fir Root Bark Beetle
A bark beetle species in the weevil family Curculionidae, commonly known as the Fir Root Bark Beetle. Native to western North America, it is associated with fir trees and develops in root systems. The species was described by J.M. Swaine in 1918.
Pseudohylesinus sericeus
silver fir beetle
Pseudohylesinus sericeus, the silver fir beetle, is a bark beetle species in the weevil family Curculionidae. It is known from North America and is associated with silver fir trees. The species was described by Mannerheim in 1843 and is currently classified in the genus Pseudohylesinus, though it was formerly placed in Hylurgus.
Pseudohylesinus tsugae
Pseudohylesinus tsugae is a crenulate bark beetle in the family Curculionidae, native to western North America. It has a univoltine life cycle with two broods and four larval instars, overwintering as a fourth-instar larva. The species is closely associated with western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), where adult females feed on the inner bark of living trees before breeding in fresh stumps. It is distinguished from the sympatric P. grandis by its preference for stumps over slash as breeding substrate.
Pseudopityophthorus
oak bark beetles
A genus of bark and ambrosia beetles in the family Curculionidae, comprising more than 30 described species distributed primarily in North and Central America. Species in this genus are strongly associated with oak trees (Quercus spp.) and have been investigated as potential vectors of forest pathogens, including the oak wilt fungus Ceratocystis fagacearum and the canker-causing fungus Geosmithia pallida. Some species exhibit phoretic behavior and form associations with other organisms including mites and nematodes.
Pseudopityophthorus agrifoliae
Pseudopityophthorus agrifoliae is a bark beetle species in the weevil family Curculionidae. The species was described by Blackman in 1931 and is known from North America. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with coniferous trees. The specific epithet 'agrifoliae' suggests a historical association with coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), though this host relationship requires confirmation.
Pseudopityophthorus asperulus
Pseudopityophthorus asperulus is a bark beetle species in the family Curculionidae, described by Blackman in 1931. It belongs to the genus Pseudopityophthorus, a group of small ambrosia beetles that tunnel beneath bark. The species is recorded from North America. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with woody host plants, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Pseudopityophthorus minutissimus
oak bark beetle
Pseudopityophthorus minutissimus, commonly known as the oak bark beetle, is a small bark beetle in the family Curculionidae. It is native to North America and breeds in oak species (Quercus). The species has been investigated as a potential vector of the oak wilt fungus Ceratocystis fagacearum, though evidence suggests it plays a minor role in long-distance pathogen transmission compared to other insects.
Pseudopityophthorus pruinosus
Pseudopityophthorus pruinosus is a species of bark beetle in the family Curculionidae, subfamily Scolytinae. It was described by Wood & Bright in 1992 and is known from North America and Middle America. The species has been documented in association with nematodes, though the nature of this relationship remains unspecified in available literature. As a member of the tribe Xyleborini, it belongs to a group of ambrosia beetles that typically cultivate fungal gardens within wood galleries.
Pseudopityophthorus pubipennis
western oak bark beetle
Pseudopityophthorus pubipennis, the western oak bark beetle, is a small bark beetle in the family Curculionidae. The species has been identified as a vector of Geosmithia pallida, the causal agent of foamy bark canker disease on coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) in California. Previously considered a secondary agent, this native beetle is now associated with significant tree decline and mortality in urban landscapes across multiple California counties.
Pseudothysanoes
Pseudothysanoes is a genus of bark beetles (Scolytinae) within the family Curculionidae. The genus contains more than 100 described species and was established by Blackman in 1920. Species in this genus have been documented in the Northwestern Himalayan region, including the first South Asian record from Jammu and Kashmir. As bark beetles, members of this genus are associated with woody plants, though specific ecological details remain limited for most species.
Pseudothysanoes turnbowi
A small bark beetle species in the family Curculionidae, described by Wood in 1977. The species is known from North America and is part of a genus of typical bark beetles that inhabit dead or dying wood.
Rhagodera tuberculata
cylindrical bark beetle
Rhagodera tuberculata is a species of cylindrical bark beetle in the family Zopheridae. It is found in North America. The species was described by Mannerheim in 1843. Very little detailed information about its biology, ecology, or specific habitat requirements has been documented in the available literature.
Rhinostomus frontalis
yucca weevil
Rhinostomus frontalis is a species of weevil in the family Curculionidae, historically classified under the genus Yuccaborus and commonly known as the yucca weevil. The species was described by LeConte in 1874. It belongs to a group of snout and bark beetles, though specific ecological details remain limited in published literature.
Scierus pubescens
Scierus pubescens is a species of crenulate bark beetle in the family Curculionidae. It is native to North America, with documented occurrences across Canada and the northern United States. First described by J.M. Swaine in 1924, this species belongs to a genus of bark beetles associated with coniferous trees.
Scolytodes
Scolytodes is a genus of small bark beetles in the tribe Ctenophorini, distributed throughout the Neotropics from Mexico to South America. Many species are associated with specific host plants, particularly Cecropia and Ficus, with some exhibiting ambrosia beetle behavior involving fungal cultivation in galleries. The genus has undergone extensive taxonomic revision, with numerous new species described from Central and South America in recent decades.
Scolytodes schwarzi
Scolytodes schwarzi is a bark beetle species described by Wood & Bright in 1992, belonging to the genus Scolytodes within the weevil family Curculionidae (subfamily Scolytinae). It is distributed across the Caribbean, Middle America, and North America. As a member of Scolytodes, it is part of a genus of small ambrosia beetles that typically colonize dead or dying wood.
Scolytus
bark beetles, elm bark beetles
Scolytus is a genus of bark beetles in the subfamily Scolytinae, family Curculionidae. Multiple species within this genus are significant forest pests, particularly as vectors of Dutch elm disease. The genus includes both European and North American species with documented roles in tree mortality. Some species exhibit chemically-mediated aggregation behaviors involving pheromone communication.
Scolytus mali
larger shothole borer, apple bark beetle, large fruit bark beetle
Scolytus mali is a bark beetle native to Europe that has become invasive in North America. It is commonly known as the larger shothole borer or apple bark beetle, reflecting its association with fruit trees. The species exhibits brief maturation feeding on living but weakened apple trees before aggregating for breeding in response to female-produced pheromones. Both sexes possess a well-developed gular-prosternal stridulatory apparatus and produce characteristic double chirps through head movement, with distinct acoustic differences between stress and attraction signals.
Scolytus multistriatus
European elm bark beetle, smaller European elm bark beetle
Scolytus multistriatus is a small bark beetle in the subfamily Scolytinae that infests elm trees (Ulmus spp.). It is a known vector of Dutch elm disease caused by the fungus Ophiostoma ulmi, though it is less effective than the related Scolytus scolytus. The species uses chemical cues including vanillin and syringaldehyde to locate host trees during oviposition. It has been introduced to North America and other regions beyond its native European range, where it contributes to elm decline through disease transmission and direct tree damage.
Scolytus muticus
hackberry engraver, hackberry beetle
Scolytus muticus is a bark beetle species in the family Curculionidae, commonly known as the hackberry engraver or hackberry beetle. The species is found in North America and is associated with hackberry trees (Celtis species). Like other members of the genus Scolytus, this species exhibits the typical bark beetle habit of excavating galleries in the phloem of host trees.
Scolytus piceae
Spruce Engraver
Scolytus piceae is a bark beetle species in the weevil family Curculionidae, subfamily Scolytinae, commonly known as the Spruce Engraver. It is a primary phloem-feeding beetle specializing on spruce trees, with documented associations with Engelmann spruce and white spruce in northern Idaho. The species constructs galleries in the phloem tissue of host trees where larvae develop.
Scolytus quadrispinosus
Hickory Bark Beetle
Scolytus quadrispinosus, commonly known as the hickory bark beetle, is a bark beetle species in the family Curculionidae. It is native to North America and has been documented in Canada (Ontario, Québec) and the United States. The species is associated with hickory and related host trees. Its dispersal flight behavior has been studied in relation to host specificity, with individuals attracted to host material during flight.
Scolytus rugulosus
shothole borer, fruit tree bark beetle, apple tree beetle
Scolytus rugulosus is a bark beetle in the family Curculionidae, commonly known as the shothole borer or apple tree beetle. The species is native to Europe and has been introduced to the Americas and North Asia. It is a pest of stone and pome fruit trees in the family Rosaceae, where it tunnels beneath the bark to complete its life cycle.
Scolytus schevyrewi
Banded Elm Bark Beetle
Scolytus schevyrewi is a small bark beetle native to Asia that has become invasive in North America. It is a documented vector of Dutch elm disease pathogens (Ophiostoma ulmi and O. novo-ulmi). The species exhibits strong attraction to stressed or weakened host trees, particularly Ulmus pumila, and has been observed displacing both native elm bark beetles and the earlier-introduced smaller European elm bark beetle (S. multistriatus) in North America. In its native range, it also causes significant damage to fruit trees including apricot.
Scolytus unispinosus
Douglas-fir engraver
Scolytus unispinosus, the Douglas-fir engraver, is a bark beetle native to western North America. It acts primarily as a secondary insect, colonizing the tops, limbs, and branches of Douglas-fir trees that have been killed or weakened by other factors. While it occasionally kills young trees, it is generally of minor economic importance and commonly attacks logging slash. In British Columbia's interior, it frequently occurs in association with the Douglas-fir beetle (Dendroctonus pseudotsugae).
Silvaninae
silvanid flat bark beetles
Silvaninae is a subfamily of silvanid flat bark beetles (family Silvanidae) comprising approximately 11 genera and at least 30 described species. The subfamily includes several economically significant stored product pests, most notably species in the genera *Oryzaephilus* and *Cathartus*. Members are characterized by their dorsoventrally flattened bodies adapted for living under bark or in similar confined spaces. The group has a cosmopolitan distribution with species found across multiple continents.
Silvanus unidentatus
Silvanus unidentatus is a small bark-dwelling beetle in the family Silvanidae, measuring 2.3–2.8 mm. Native to the Palaearctic region across 33 countries plus Korea, it has been introduced to North America and Chile. The species inhabits the space beneath tightly attached bark of dead broadleaved trees, where both larvae and adults develop. It has been the subject of genome sequencing research, yielding a chromosome-level assembly of 187.15 Mb.
Sosylus costatus
dry bark beetle
Sosylus costatus is a species of dry bark beetle in the family Bothrideridae, described by LeConte in 1863. It is found in North America. The family Bothrideridae, sometimes referred to as dry bark beetles, consists of small beetles often associated with dead or dying wood and other insects.
Sphaeriestes virescens
Greenish Narrow-waisted Bark Beetle
Sphaeriestes virescens is a species of narrow-waisted bark beetle in the family Salpingidae. It is found in North America. The species was described by LeConte in 1850. Available records indicate presence in Canada, specifically Alberta, British Columbia, and Labrador.
Stenoscelis
Stenoscelis is a genus of weevils (family Curculionidae) comprising at least 30 described species. The genus was established by Thomas Vernon Wollaston in 1861. These beetles are classified among snout and bark beetles, placing them within the diverse weevil fauna. Species in this genus occur across multiple continents with documented records from North America and Europe.
Stenoscelis brevis
snout beetle, bark beetle
Stenoscelis brevis is a species of weevil in the family Curculionidae, first described by Boheman in 1845. The species belongs to a genus of snout or bark beetles distributed in North America. Records indicate presence across eastern Canada including New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Québec.
Synchroa punctata
Punctate Synchronized Bark Beetle
Synchroa punctata is a species of bark beetle in the family Synchroidae, native to North America. The species is commonly known as the Punctate Synchronized Bark Beetle. It is the most frequently observed member of its family on iNaturalist, with over 1,400 observations recorded. The family Synchroidae is a small group of beetles commonly referred to as synchronized bark beetles.
Tenebroides
Cadelles
Tenebroides is a genus of bark-gnawing beetles in the family Trogossitidae, containing at least 20 described species. The genus includes both native forest-dwelling species and economically significant stored product pests. Tenebroides mauritanicus (the cadelle) is the most extensively studied species, being a major pest of stored grain worldwide. Other species such as T. collaris occur in natural habitats including bark and decaying wood.
Tenebroides americanus
Tenebroides americanus is a bark-gnawing beetle in the family Trogossitidae. The species occurs in eastern Canada, with confirmed records from Ontario and Québec. As a member of Trogossitidae, it belongs to a family of predatory beetles often associated with bark and wood habitats. The specific biology and ecology of this species remain poorly documented.
Thanasimus dubius
dubious checkered beetle, American bark beetle destroyer, checkered beetle predator, Wavering Checkered Beetle
Thanasimus dubius is a predatory checkered beetle (Cleridae) native to North and Central America. It specializes in preying upon bark beetles, particularly species in the genera Ips and Dendroctonus, with the southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis) being a well-documented prey item. Adults exhibit a stereotyped five-act predatory sequence involving search/ambush, seizure, alignment, consumption, and grooming. The species demonstrates chemotactic responses to bark beetle pheromones and tree volatiles, and shows regional genetic differentiation across its eastern North American range. It has been investigated as a potential biological control agent for forest pest management.
Thysanoes fimbricornis
Thysanoes fimbricornis is a species of bark beetle in the family Curculionidae, described by LeConte in 1876. It is found in North America and Middle America. The genus Thysanoes comprises small bark beetles associated with woody plants. Like other members of Curculionidae, it has a characteristic rostrum and elbowed antennae.
Thysanoes texanus
Thysanoes texanus is a species of bark beetle in the family Curculionidae, described by Blackman in 1943. It belongs to a genus of typical bark beetles, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain poorly documented. The species is known to occur in North America.
Tomicus
pine shoot beetles
Tomicus is a genus of bark beetles in the family Curculionidae, described by Pierre André Latreille in 1802. The genus contains at least seven recognized species, including economically significant forest pests such as T. piniperda, T. minor, T. destruens, and T. yunnanensis. These beetles are commonly known as pine shoot beetles due to their distinctive life history involving feeding on pine shoots before trunk colonization. Several species have caused substantial mortality in pine forests across Europe, the Mediterranean region, and southwestern China, with T. yunnanensis described as unusually aggressive in its native range.