Conifer
Guides
Agathis
kauri, dammar
Agathis is a genus of evergreen coniferous trees comprising approximately 22 species, commonly known as kauri or dammar. The genus belongs to the ancient family Araucariaceae, which was widespread during the Jurassic period but is now largely restricted to the Southern Hemisphere. Agathis species are characterized by large trunks with minimal lower branching, broad leathery leaves, and commercially valuable timber and resins. The genus is most diverse in Malesia and Australasia, with some species reaching substantial sizes and great age.
Aphidecta obliterata
larch ladybird, larch ladybug, Larch Lady Beetle
Aphidecta obliterata is a small ladybird beetle (3.5–5 mm) native to Europe, with introduced populations in North America. It is a specialized predator of conifer-infesting aphids and adelgids, particularly associated with spruce and larch. The species exhibits remarkable color polymorphism, ranging from tan to brown with pinkish tints to nearly black. Multiple unsuccessful attempts were made to introduce it to eastern Canada as a biological control agent for the balsam woolly aphid (Adelges piceae) beginning in 1941. Females demonstrate sophisticated oviposition behavior, using conspecific larval tracks and egg-surface chemicals to avoid sites with high cannibalism risk.
Aphrophora canadensis
conifer spittlebug
Aphrophora canadensis is a species of spittlebug in the family Aphrophoridae, originally described from Canada in 1928. The genus Aphrophora comprises conifer-associated spittlebugs that are frequently attracted to lights at night. This species occurs in western North America, with records from British Columbia, California, and Idaho. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with coniferous host plants.
Aphrophora cribrata
pine spittlebug
Aphrophora cribrata, commonly known as the pine spittlebug, is a species of spittlebug in the family Aphrophoridae. The species is associated with coniferous habitats and has been documented in North America. Taxonomic authorities recognize this species as a synonym of Epipyga cribrata, reflecting ongoing revisions in spittlebug classification. The common name indicates its ecological association with pine trees.
Aphrophora gelida
Boreal Spittlebug
Aphrophora gelida, commonly known as the boreal spittlebug, is a species of spittlebug in the family Aphrophoridae. It is native to North America and has been recorded across a broad geographic range including Alabama, Alberta, British Columbia, California, and Connecticut. The species belongs to a genus associated with coniferous habitats.
Aphrophora maculosa
Conifer spittlebug
Aphrophora maculosa is a species of spittlebug in the family Aphrophoridae, described by Doering in 1941. It belongs to a genus commonly known as conifer spittlebugs, many of which feed on coniferous trees. The species is found in western North America, ranging from British Columbia and Alberta in Canada south through Washington, Oregon, and California in the United States. Like other Aphrophora species, it is attracted to lights at night.
Aphrophora parallella
Aphrophora parallella is a species of spittlebug in the family Aphrophoridae, first described by Thomas Say in 1824. The genus Aphrophora comprises conifer spittlebugs, with adults typically found in association with coniferous trees. The species is part of a taxonomically complex group where family-level placement has varied between Aphrophoridae and Cercopidae depending on classification system used. Specific biological details for A. parallella remain poorly documented in available literature.
Aphrophora regina
Aphrophora regina is a species of spittlebug in the family Aphrophoridae, described by Hamilton in 1982. The species is currently recognized as valid, though it has been treated as Peuceptyelus regina in some taxonomic arrangements. Spittlebugs in this genus are commonly known as conifer spittlebugs and are associated with coniferous host plants. The species occurs in western North America, with records from British Columbia.
Arhopalus asperatus
Arhopalus asperatus is a longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1859. Adults range from 18 to 33 mm in length, with antennae measuring approximately 50-75% of body length. The species occurs across western North America, with records from Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba) through the western United States. Like other members of the genus, it is associated with coniferous wood, particularly pines.
Arhopalus rusticus montanus
Arhopalus rusticus montanus is a subspecies of longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, distributed across North America, Europe, and parts of Asia. The species is associated with coniferous forests and develops under the bark of dead or dying conifers. Adults are active during cooler periods, with some populations exhibiting winter activity patterns. This subspecies is part of a complex with Holarctic distribution, showing variation in host preferences across its range.
Arhopalus rusticus obsoletus
Arhopalus rusticus obsoletus is a subspecies of longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It belongs to a species complex with Holarctic distribution, occurring in both North America and Eurasia. The subspecies is associated with coniferous wood, where larvae develop under bark. Adults are active during warmer months and can be found on or near dead conifers.
Carphoborus bicornis
Carphoborus bicornis is a species of weevil in the family Curculionidae, described by Wood in 1986. The genus Carphoborus comprises bark beetles associated with coniferous trees. This species is recorded from North America. Very little published information exists regarding its specific biology or ecology.
bark-beetleweevilconifer-associatedNorth-AmericascolytinaeCurculionidaeColeopterainsectbeetleforest-pestwood-boring-beetleScolytiniCarphoborusbicornisWood-19861986provisionally-acceptedacceptedexact-matchAnimaliaArthropodaInsectaCarphoborus-bicornistaxonomyclassificationconiferforestwood-boringpesteukaryotahexapodapolyphagacucujiformiacurculionoideaCembrotia
Cembrotia is a genus of gall midges in the family Cecidomyiidae, described by Gagné in 2013. Members of this genus are small, delicate flies whose larvae induce gall formation on host plants. The genus is relatively recently described and contains species associated with conifers, particularly cedars (Cedrus spp.).
Choristoneura
spruce budworms
Choristoneura is a genus of tortricid moths comprising nearly forty species distributed across North America and Eurasia. Most species are serious pests of conifers, with several causing major forest defoliation events. The genus includes notable forest pests such as the eastern spruce budworm (C. fumiferana) and western spruce budworm (C. occidentalis), which undergo periodic population outbreaks that can devastate spruce-fir forests. The genus exhibits complex population dynamics and is extensively studied for its economic and ecological impacts.
Cinara pergandei
Globose Pine Aphid
Cinara pergandei is a large aphid species in the family Aphididae, commonly known as the Globose Pine Aphid. It feeds on coniferous trees, particularly pines, and produces copious amounts of honeydew that attracts wasps and other insects. Like other Cinara species, it has piercing-sucking mouthparts adapted for tapping into phloem sap. It is part of a genus containing numerous conifer-feeding aphids, many of which are significant pests in forestry and Christmas tree production.
Crypturgini
Crypturgini is a small tribe of bark beetles within the subfamily Scolytinae. These beetles are associated with coniferous trees and are characterized by their minute size and cryptic lifestyle beneath bark. The tribe contains relatively few described species. Members are primarily distributed in the Northern Hemisphere.
Dendroctonus
bark beetles, tree-killing beetles
Dendroctonus is a genus of bark beetles in the family Curculionidae, subfamily Scolytinae. The genus name derives from Greek 'dendron' (tree) and 'ktonos' (murder), reflecting its capacity to kill trees. Species in this genus are among the most destructive forest pests in North America, with several species capable of causing extensive tree mortality through mass attacks. The genus exhibits complex chemical communication systems involving aggregation and antiaggregation pheromones, and maintains symbiotic relationships with yeasts and bacteria that aid in digestion and pheromone production.
Dendroctonus mexicanus
Mexican bark beetle
Dendroctonus mexicanus is a bark beetle native to Mexico and Central America, recognized as the most widely distributed and destructive bark beetle in Mexico. It colonizes more than 21 pine species and causes significant tree mortality in coniferous forests. The species' population dynamics are strongly influenced by climate variables, particularly temperature and precipitation, with outbreak risk increasing under warmer, drier conditions. It is considered a major forest pest affecting wood supply and ecosystem services.
bark-beetleforest-pestpineMexicoclimate-changeDendroctonusScolytinaeconiferphloem-feederoutbreakbiotic-regulatorMaxEnt-modelinghost-specificityTrans-Mexican-Volcanic-BeltSierra-Madre-del-SurCentral-Americaentomologyforest-healthintegrated-pest-managementsemiochemicalstree-mortalityecological-niche-modelingsuitable-habitatprecipitationtemperatureelevation-gradientPinusmonterey-pineoocarpa-pinemaximinoi-pinechiapas-pineinfestation-riskfuture-scenariosforest-managementconservationecosystem-serviceswood-supplysouthern-pine-beetlecoexistenceGran-Desierto-de-SonoraMichoacánendemiceruptive-herbivorephloemgallerypitch-tubesresindefensemutualismcompetitionniche-overlapbioclimatic-variablesMaxEntkuenmR-packagemodeling-algorithmquadratic-responseBio-1annual-mean-temperaturesuitabilityexpansionnorthward-shiftupward-elevation-shifthabitat-losshost-availabilitypopulation-dynamicsfiretree-densitytopographydroughtwarmingmultiple-generationssister-broodsoverwinteringdiapauseflight-musclesreproductionmass-attackaggregation-pheromonesfrontalinexo-brevicominolfactory-signalingelectroantennographic-detectiongas-chromatographyantennahost-locationhost-selectionpioneer-beetlestree-killingblue-staining-fungusOphiostomaCeratocystisvectordisease-agentforest-pathologysilviculturecut-and-leavecut-and-removesuppressionmanagementmonitoringpheromone-baited-trapfunnel-trapaerial-surveytree-mortality-detectionBohart-MuseumUC-DavisUSDA-Forest-ServiceSteve-Seyboldinvasive-specieswalnut-twig-beetlegoldspotted-oak-borerpolyphagous-shot-hole-borerfirewoodTrojan-horsecamperstree-transportspreaddetectionpreventionquarantineregulatorypolicystakeholderlandownerpublic-landprivate-landpermitcontractbidcrewdelaytreatmentflexibilitytweakoptimizationproductivityresearchgrower-educationextensionoutreacheducationmuseumcollectionspecimenscanning-electron-microscopemagnificationwood-sculptureartcraftchildrenactivityornamentwhite-firwalking-stickMadagascar-hissing-cockroachpraying-mantistarantulagift-shopopen-housefamily-friendlyfreeadmissiondorm-move-inclasscareerfuncabbage-white-butterflyeducatorvolunteerassociatesenior-museum-scientisteducation-and-outreach-coordinatordirectorprofessorgraduate-studentundergraduate-studentjunior-specialistlectureraffiliateresearch-entomologistforest-health-protectionforest-health-officerforest-health-specialistassistant-professorClemson-UniversityUniversity-of-MinnesotaUniversity-of-CaliforniaColorado-State-UniversityKansas-State-UniversityUniversity-of-GeorgiaUniversity-of-MichiganUniversity-of-NebraskaBrigham-Young-UniversityMontana-State-UniversityNorth-Dakota-State-UniversitySouth-Dakota-State-UniversityNew-Mexico-State-UniversityArizona-State-UniversityUniversity-of-OklahomaUniversity-of-TexasUniversity-of-FloridaUniversity-of-WashingtonOregon-State-UniversityUniversity-of-IdahoUniversity-of-WyomingUniversity-of-AlbertaUniversity-of-SaskatchewanUniversity-of-ManitobaUniversity-of-British-ColumbiaMcGill-UniversityUniversity-of-TorontoUniversity-of-GuelphUniversity-of-WaterlooUniversity-of-OttawaUniversity-of-CalgaryUniversity-of-LethbridgeUniversity-of-ReginaUniversity-of-WinnipegBrandon-UniversityTrent-UniversityYork-UniversityRyerson-UniversityConcordia-UniversityUniversité-de-MontréalUniversité-LavalUniversité-du-QuébecUniversité-de-SherbrookeUniversité-de-MonctonDalhousie-UniversityAcadia-UniversitySt.-Francis-Xavier-UniversityMount-Allison-UniversityUniversity-of-Prince-Edward-IslandMemorial-University-of-NewfoundlandUniversity-of-New-BrunswickSt.-Thomas-UniversityBishop's-UniversityChamplain-CollegeDawson-CollegeVanier-CollegeJohn-Abbott-CollegeMarianopolis-CollegeCollège-de-MaisonneuveCégep-du-Vieux-MontréalCégep-de-Saint-LaurentCégep-de-RosemontCégep-André-LaurendeauCégep-de-Bois-de-BoulogneCégep-Gérald-GodinCégep-de-LimoilouCégep-de-Sainte-FoyCégep-de-Lévis-LauzonCégep-de-ThetfordCégep-de-VictoriavilleCégep-de-DrummondvilleCégep-de-Saint-HyacintheCégep-de-Sorel-TracyCégep-de-Trois-RivièresCégep-de-ShawiniganCégep-de-La-PocatièreCégep-de-RimouskiCégep-de-MataneCégep-de-Sept-ÎlesCégep-de-Baie-ComeauCégep-de-JonquièreCégep-de-ChicoutimiCégep-de-AlmaCégep-de-Saint-FélicienCégep-de-RobervalCégep-de-La-TuqueCégep-de-Dolbeau-MistassiniCégep-de-Saint-JérômeCégep-de-MontmorencyCégep-de-l'OutaouaisCégep-de-HeritageCégep-de-Saint-Jean-sur-RichelieuCégep-de-ValleyfieldCégep-de-GranbyHarvard-UniversityYale-UniversityPrinceton-UniversityColumbia-UniversityCornell-UniversityDartmouth-CollegeBrown-UniversityUniversity-of-PennsylvaniaMassachusetts-Institute-of-TechnologyStanford-UniversityCalifornia-Institute-of-TechnologyUniversity-of-ChicagoNorthwestern-UniversityDuke-UniversityJohns-Hopkins-UniversityGeorgetown-UniversityVanderbilt-UniversityRice-UniversityUniversity-of-Notre-DameEmory-UniversityWashington-University-in-St.-LouisCarnegie-Mellon-UniversityUniversity-of-Southern-CaliforniaUniversity-of-VirginiaWake-Forest-UniversityTufts-UniversityBoston-CollegeBrandeis-UniversityNew-York-UniversityUniversity-of-North-Carolina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rufipennis
spruce beetle, great spruce bark beetle
Dendroctonus rufipennis, the spruce beetle, is a bark beetle native to North America and a major pest of spruce forests. Adults measure 4–7 mm in length and are among the larger bark beetles in spruce. The species undergoes a facultative life cycle of 1, 2, or 3 years, with 2-year cycles being most common. Outbreaks have caused extensive tree mortality across western North America, particularly affecting Engelmann and white spruce. Climate warming and drought stress are key factors driving population increases.
Dendroctonus valens
Red Turpentine Beetle
Dendroctonus valens is a bark beetle native to North and Central America, ranging from Canada to Honduras. In its native range, it primarily colonizes stumps of freshly cut trees and stressed or damaged conifers, causing minimal economic damage. Following its accidental introduction to China in the mid-1990s, likely via wood packaging material, it has become a highly destructive invasive pest. In China, it attacks healthy as well as stressed pine trees, particularly Pinus tabuliformis, and has killed over six million trees. The species exhibits complex mating behavior involving acoustic signals and chemical pheromones, and maintains symbiotic relationships with fungi and bacteria that assist in nutrition and detoxification of host plant defenses.
Dicerca tenebrica
Flat-headed Poplar Borer, Flatheaded Wood Borer
Dicerca tenebrica is a large jewel beetle (family Buprestidae) found in Canada and the northeastern and southern United States. Adults are brassy to black in coloration and active from March through November. The species is primarily associated with poplar species (Populus), particularly balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera), and has also been recorded from conifers in Alberta including lodgepole pine, jack pine, and white spruce. Larvae are wood-borers in living or recently dead trees.
Dicerca tenebrosa
flatheaded conifer borer, Dark Jewel Beetle
Dicerca tenebrosa, commonly known as the flatheaded conifer borer, is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found across North America, particularly in boreal and montane regions. The species is associated with coniferous trees, especially pines, and has been observed on dead or dying Pinus ponderosa and Pinus monophylla. Two subspecies are recognized: D. t. tenebrosa and D. t. knulli.
Dioryctria delectella
Dioryctria delectella is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, described by George Duryea Hulst in 1895. It is currently treated as a synonym of Dioryctria zimmermani. The species is known from western North America, with records from Oregon, Washington, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. Like other members of the genus Dioryctria, it is associated with coniferous forests.
Dioryctria okanaganella
Dioryctria okanaganella is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, described in 1969. It occurs in western North America from southern British Columbia to northern California. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with coniferous forests.
Dryocoetes
Dryocoetes is a genus of bark beetles (subfamily Scolytinae) in the weevil family Curculionidae. Species are distributed across North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. The genus includes both conifer- and hardwood-associated species, with documented hosts including fir, spruce, pine, alder, birch, beech, poplar, liquidambar, and walnut. Several species are economically significant forest pests or invasive species.
Eriotremex
Eriotremex is a genus of woodwasps in the family Siricidae (Hymenoptera). Members of this genus are associated with coniferous hosts and are distributed in Asia and North America. At least one species, Eriotremex formosanus, has been introduced to the southeastern United States, where it has been documented in South Carolina. The genus is characterized by morphological features typical of Siricidae, including a cylindrical body and an elongated ovipositor in females.
Eulachnini
Eulachnini is a tribe of aphids within the subfamily Lachninae, comprising approximately 27 species documented in Lithuania alone. Members are specialized phloem-feeders on coniferous plants, particularly Pinaceae. Several species produce substantial honeydew, with five noted as promising honeydew producers in Lithuanian forests. Only Cinara piceae has been identified as a potential forest pest, with documented damage to firs in nursery settings.
Gilpinia
conifer sawflies
Gilpinia is a genus of conifer sawflies in the family Diprionidae, comprising approximately 20 described species distributed across Europe, Asia, and North America. Several species are significant forest pests, notably G. hercyniae (European spruce sawfly) and G. polytoma, which feed on spruce (Picea) species. The genus exhibits complex life history strategies including facultative diapause and variable voltinism (one to three generations annually) depending on geographic location and climate. Species identification relies heavily on morphological examination of the ovipositor, male genitalia, and wing coloration.
Gnathotrichus materiarius
American utilizable wood bark beetle
Gnathotrichus materiarius is an ambrosia beetle native to North America that has been introduced to Europe, where it was first detected in France in 1933. It excavates galleries in coniferous sapwood and maintains an obligate symbiosis with the fungus Endomycopsis fasciculata, which adults inoculate into wood and which serves as the primary food source for both larvae and adults. In Central Europe, it completes two generations per year, with adult flight beginning in early May and F2 generation adults overwintering in wood. Despite nearly a century of presence in Europe and its association with economically important conifers including Picea and Pinus, it has not caused significant damage, functioning primarily as a secondary pest of decaying or previously infested trees.
Hylastes porculus
Hylastes porculus is a crenulate bark beetle in the family Curculionidae, found in North America. The species has been documented as a vector of pathogenic fungi, including Leptographium terebrantis, Leptographium procerum, and Ophiostoma ips, to wounded roots of red pine (Pinus resinosa). Its role in transmitting these fungi implicates it in red pine decline disease.
Hylobius
pine weevil, large pine weevil
Hylobius is a genus of true weevils (Curculionidae) containing approximately 15 described species. Several species, particularly Hylobius abietis and H. pales, are significant forestry pests that damage coniferous trees through root and collar feeding. The genus is distributed across the Northern Hemisphere, with species occurring in North America, Europe, and Asia. Adults are mobile and capable of flight, while larvae are relatively immobile and develop in soil near host roots.
Hylobius congener
Seedling Debarking Weevil, Pine Weevil
Hylobius congener, the seedling debarking weevil, is a species of pine weevil in the beetle family Curculionidae. It is a documented pest of newly planted coniferous seedlings in clearcut forests, where adults feed on bark and frequently girdle and kill young trees. The species occurs in North America, with confirmed records in Canada including Alberta, British Columbia, Labrador, and Manitoba.
Hylobius pales
Pales Weevil
Hylobius pales, commonly known as the pales weevil, is a significant forest pest in North America that primarily attacks coniferous trees, especially species of Pinus. Adults are dark red-brown with yellowish or gray hair tufts on the elytra and thorax, and possess a robust, cylindrical, gently curved rostrum nearly as long as the thorax. The species is particularly damaging to young pine seedlings in cut-over areas and Christmas tree plantations, with mortality rates reaching 30-70% in unprotected plantings. Larvae develop in stumps and roots of host trees, while adults feed on bark.
Illinoia morrisoni
Sequoia Aphid
Illinoia morrisoni is an aphid species in the family Aphididae, first described by Swain in 1918. The species is commonly known as the Sequoia Aphid. It has been recorded from Chile across multiple regions, with additional distribution records from Belgium (doubtful) and France. The species belongs to the genus Illinoia, which comprises aphids primarily associated with coniferous hosts.
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 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 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.
Lechriops
Lechriops is a genus of true weevils in the family Curculionidae containing at least 90 described species. The genus was established by Carl Johan Schoenherr in 1825. The genus name is masculine per ICZN Article 30.1.4.3, which specifies that compound genus-group names ending in -ops are to be treated as masculine regardless of derivation or original author treatment. Members are small weevils associated with coniferous trees.
Lechriops griseus
Lechriops griseus is a species of weevil in the family Curculionidae, subfamily Cossoninae. Members of the genus Lechriops are small weevils associated with coniferous trees, where larvae bore under bark on trunks and larger branches. The species epithet "griseus" (Latin for "gray") likely refers to the coloration of the adult beetle. This species is part of a genus containing multiple species with similar bark-boring habits in pine and related conifers.
Leptoglossus occidentalis
Western Conifer Seed Bug, WCSB
Leptoglossus occidentalis, commonly known as the Western Conifer Seed Bug, is a leaf-footed bug native to western North America that has undergone dramatic range expansion. Originally confined to the Pacific coast region from California to British Columbia, it began spreading eastward in the 1950s, reaching the Atlantic coast by the 1990s. The species has also become invasive in Europe (first detected in Italy in 1999), Asia, South America, and elsewhere. Adults are notable for their loud, droning flight and tendency to seek shelter indoors during autumn, where they become nuisance pests. They feed on conifer seeds and developing cones, particularly of pines, and can cause significant damage in seed orchards.
Macroxyela ferruginea
Macroxyela ferruginea is a sawfly in the family Xyelidae, one of the most ancient lineages of Hymenoptera. This species belongs to a genus characterized by relatively large size among xyelid sawflies and association with coniferous hosts. Xyelidae are considered living fossils, retaining morphological traits found in the earliest known fossil Hymenoptera from the Triassic and Jurassic periods.
Mesopolobus
Mesopolobus is a genus of chalcidoid wasps in the family Pteromalidae, established by Westwood in 1833. The genus contains approximately 135 valid species with cosmopolitan distribution. Most species are parasitoids of pupae, though the genus exhibits diverse life histories. Species have been documented from coniferous foliage, particularly spruce, as well as from gall-forming insects and other hosts.
Molytinae
Molytinae is a large and diverse subfamily of weevils (Curculionidae) described by Carl Johan Schönherr in 1823. The subfamily contains numerous tribes and genera distributed worldwide, with particularly high diversity in tropical and subtropical regions. Many Molytinae species are associated with specific host plants, including conifers, oaks, and various flowering plants. Some species are economically important as pests of forestry and agricultural crops, while others are restricted to specialized habitats such as leaf litter, caves, or high-elevation ecosystems. The subfamily has undergone significant taxonomic revision in recent decades, with many new species described particularly from Central America, Africa, and Asia.
Monochamus clamator nevadensis
Spotted Pine Sawyer
Monochamus clamator nevadensis is a subspecies of the spotted pine sawyer, a longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It belongs to a genus of large woodboring beetles that infest coniferous trees, particularly pines. The subspecies was described by Dillon & Dillon in 1941 and is distributed in western North America, including Nevada and surrounding regions. Like other Monochamus species, it develops in dead, dying, or stressed coniferous wood and is attracted to blacklights at night.
Neodiprion excitans
Black-headed Pine Sawfly
Neodiprion excitans, commonly known as the Black-headed Pine Sawfly, is a conifer-feeding sawfly in the family Diprionidae. It is native to eastern North America, with documented populations in North Carolina and surrounding regions. Like other members of its genus, it is a folivore that feeds on pine needles and can cause significant defoliation during outbreak conditions. The species has been studied for its population dynamics and ecological interactions in pine forest ecosystems.
Neodiprion fabricii
Fabricius's Sawfly
Neodiprion fabricii is a conifer sawfly species in the family Diprionidae, native to eastern North America. The larvae are folivores that feed on pine needles, with young larvae consuming partial needles and older larvae eating entire needles. This species is one of approximately 25 conifer sawfly species found in eastern U.S. forests and occasionally contributes to localized defoliation events. Adults are stingless wasps with a saw-like ovipositor used to insert eggs into conifer foliage.
Neodiprion nanulus
Red Pine Sawfly
Neodiprion nanulus, commonly known as the Red Pine Sawfly, is a conifer-feeding sawfly in the family Diprionidae. It is a specialist herbivore associated with red pine (Pinus resinosa). The species has been documented in the Maritime Provinces of Canada, with an isolated infestation studied near Fredericton, New Brunswick. Like other members of the genus, it likely undergoes larval development in gregarious groups and overwinters in cocoons in the duff beneath host trees.
Nepytia
false hemlock loopers, false pine loopers
Nepytia is a genus of geometrid moths (loopers) in the family Geometridae, established by George Duryea Hulst in 1896. The genus includes at least 13 described species distributed in North America. Several species, notably N. janetae and N. freemani, have been documented as forest defoliators capable of outbreak population dynamics that cause significant damage to coniferous trees. The genus exhibits considerable variation in life history traits, with some species being summer feeders and others, uniquely among studied Nepytia, feeding during autumn and winter at high elevations.
Nepytia janetae
Nepytia janetae is a geometrid moth species that has transitioned from an innocuous, poorly studied insect to a significant forest pest in the southwestern United States. Since 1996, four major outbreaks have caused extensive defoliation and mortality of conifer trees across tens of thousands of acres in Arizona and New Mexico mountain ranges. The species exhibits an unusual life history as a univoltine, autumn- and winter-feeding looper at high elevations where temperatures regularly approach or fall below 0°F. Outbreaks appear associated with reduced snowpack, though the precise climatic mechanisms remain unclear.
Nepytia pellucidaria
false pine looper, Boreal Pine Looper Moth
Nepytia pellucidaria is a geometrid moth commonly known as the false pine looper. The species was first described by Alpheus Spring Packard in 1873. It occurs in northeastern North America, where its larvae feed on hard pines including pitch pine and red pine. The species has a wingspan of approximately 34–39 mm.
Oligonychus ununguis
spruce spider mite
Oligonychus ununguis, commonly known as the spruce spider mite, is a globally distributed pest of coniferous trees, particularly spruce. It is considered one of the most important pests of spruce plantations in Ontario and causes significant damage to ornamental conifers. The mite feeds on needle sap, causing foliage discoloration, and produces silk webbing that accumulates dust. Populations thrive in cool spring and autumn conditions but decline during hot summer weather when temperatures exceed 85°F.
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 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.
Phaenops
Phaenops is a genus of jewel beetles (Buprestidae) in the tribe Melanophilini. Species in this genus are primarily associated with coniferous trees, especially pines (Pinus spp.), and are closely related to the fire beetles of genus Melanophila. Unlike Melanophila, Phaenops lack the heat-sensing pores on the metathorax and do not exhibit fire-seeking behavior. The genus occurs across North America, with species documented from the southwestern United States to the Pacific Northwest and into Canada.
Phaenops lecontei
Phaenops lecontei is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The genus Phaenops comprises species associated with coniferous trees, particularly pines. P. lecontei occurs in North America, with records from British Columbia, Canada and Alaska, United States. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to develop in wood of Pinus species, though specific host associations for this species remain poorly documented.
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 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.
Pissodes approximatus
northern pine weevil
Pissodes approximatus is a true weevil in the family Curculionidae, historically considered a junior synonym of P. nemorensis but now recognized as part of a single widespread species showing geographic variation in life history traits. The species is closely related to P. strobi, with which it can produce fertile laboratory hybrids, but maintains reproductive isolation in nature through breeding site specificity. Populations previously designated as P. approximatus (northern) and P. nemorensis (southern) differ in seasonal activity patterns and critical photoperiods for reproductive maturation.
Pissodes radiatae
Monterey Pine Weevil
Pissodes radiatae is a species of weevil in the family Curculionidae, first described by Hopkins in 1911. It is associated with pine trees, as indicated by its common name referencing Monterey pine (Pinus radiata). The species occurs in western North America, with confirmed records from British Columbia. Like other members of the genus Pissodes, it likely develops in coniferous hosts, though specific biological details remain poorly documented in accessible literature.
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.
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.
Pleroneura bruneicornis
Balsam Shootboring Sawfly
Pleroneura bruneicornis is a species of sawfly in the family Xyelidae, commonly known as the Balsam Shootboring Sawfly. The species is associated with Abies (fir) hosts, particularly balsam fir. It belongs to a primitive lineage of Hymenoptera characterized by distinctive larval feeding habits in conifer shoots. The species is rarely observed, with limited occurrence records.
Pristiphora siskiyouensis
Pristiphora siskiyouensis is a sawfly species in the family Tenthredinidae, first described by Marlatt in 1896. The species is part of a genus containing numerous sawfly species, many of which are associated with coniferous hosts. Like other Pristiphora species, it likely exhibits the typical sawfly life cycle with larvae feeding on plant foliage. The specific epithet "siskiyouensis" suggests a connection to the Siskiyou Mountains region of the Pacific Northwest.
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.
Pytho
dead log beetles, dead log bark beetles
Pytho is a small genus of saproxylic beetles in the family Pythidae, commonly known as dead log beetles or dead log bark beetles. The genus comprises approximately nine to ten described species distributed across the Holarctic region, recognized as typically boreal taxa. Species inhabit the cambial layer of dead trees, particularly conifers, where larvae feed on partially decomposed wood and bark. Several species have disjunct distributions spanning North America, Europe, and Japan, reflecting complex historical biogeographic patterns involving vicariance and dispersal across Beringia. Some species, such as P. abieticola, are considered relicts of primeval forests and are in decline across much of Central Europe.
Semanotus amplus
Semanotus amplus is a species of longhorned beetle (family Cerambycidae) in the tribe Callidiini. It is a wood-boring beetle associated with coniferous hosts, particularly junipers. The species was described by Casey in 1912 and is known from western North America. Field observations indicate it infests living or recently dead wood, with larvae creating galleries in the sapwood. Adults have been encountered at night on host tree trunks.
Semanotus conformis
Semanotus conformis is a species of longhorned beetle (family Cerambycidae) in the tribe Callidiini, described by Casey in 1924. It belongs to a genus of wood-boring beetles that infest conifers, particularly junipers and related Cupressaceae. The species is poorly documented in the available literature, with minimal published information on its biology, distribution, and host associations. Available records suggest it occurs in the western United States.
Steremnius carinatus
conifer seedling weevil
Steremnius carinatus, commonly known as the conifer seedling weevil, is a pest of coniferous seedlings in coastal British Columbia. Adults emerge from stumps and slash approximately two years after logging and girdle young seedlings near the root collar. The species was formerly considered a scavenger but is now recognized as a significant reforestation pest. Adults are unusually long-lived, surviving three or more winters and producing broods annually.
Synanthedon pini
pitch mass borer, Pitch Mass Borer Moth
Synanthedon pini, commonly known as the pitch mass borer, is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae. It is found in eastern North America, where it develops in the wood of pine and spruce trees. The larvae create pitch-filled tunnels in the inner bark and sapwood, causing defects in lumber but not killing host trees. Adults are active in mid-summer and have distinctive mostly clear wings.
Tetropium cinnamopterum
Eastern Larch Borer
Tetropium cinnamopterum is a native North American cerambycid beetle in the tribe Tetropiini. Adults are distinguished from the closely related T. parvulum by eye shape, scutellar structure, external genitalia, and pronotal puncture number; larvae are distinguished by urogomphi morphology. The species has been recorded from various conifer hosts, with larvae developing in conifer wood. It is transcontinental in Canada and occurs sympatrically with invasive T. fuscum in Atlantic Canada, where cross-attraction to the aggregation pheromone fuscumol may occur. Both sexes respond to (S)-fuscumol synergized by host monoterpenes and ethanol.
Tetropium velutinum
Western Larch Borer
Tetropium velutinum, commonly known as the Western Larch Borer, is a species of longhorn beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It was described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1869. The species is associated with coniferous forests of western North America, particularly with larch trees (Larix spp.) which serve as its larval host. Like other members of the genus Tetropium, adults are typically attracted to recently dead or dying host trees.
Trypophloeus nitidus
Trypophloeus nitidus is a species of bark beetle in the weevil family Curculionidae, described by J.M. Swaine in 1912. The genus Trypophloeus comprises bark beetles that tunnel beneath bark of woody plants. As a member of this genus, T. nitidus is associated with coniferous hosts. The species was synonymized under Phymatodes mojavensis by some authors, but Phymatodes mojavensis was subsequently synonymized under Phymatodes nitidus in a 2010 nomenclatural revision by Swift and Ray, which affects the broader taxonomic context of this species. The species is provisionally accepted in current taxonomic databases.
Tuxedo
Tuxedo is a genus of plant bugs in the family Miridae, subfamily Phylinae. The genus was established by Schuh in 2001 and contains approximately seven described species. These mirids are associated with coniferous host plants, particularly pines.
Zadiprion rohweri
Pinyon Pine Sawfly
Zadiprion rohweri, commonly known as the Pinyon Pine Sawfly, is a species of conifer-feeding sawfly in the family Diprionidae. It is associated with pinyon pine (Pinus edulis and related species) in the southwestern United States and Mexico. The species was described by Middleton in 1931 and is one of several Zadiprion species specialized on pine hosts. Sawflies in this genus are known for gregarious larval feeding that can cause noticeable defoliation.