Dendroctonus brevicomis explained

Dendroctonus brevicomis, the western pine beetle, is a species of crenulate bark beetle in the family Curculionidae. It is found in North America and parts of Mexico.^[1] It is known as a destructive pest of ponderosa and Coulter pine trees.^[2] When drought makes these pines more susceptible to infestations by D. brevicomis, there is an increased risk of forest fires due to dead trees.^[3]

Adult D. brevicomis are brown or black beetles 3–5 mm in length. Females carve lengthy egg galleries in the wood, damaging the trees.

Further reading

• Book: Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera, Volume 7: Curculionoidea I. 2013. Lobl . I.. Smetana . A.. Apollo Books. 978-90-04-26093-1.
• Book: Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera, Volume 8: Curculionoidea II. 2013. Lobl . I.. Smetana . A.. Apollo Books. 978-90-04-25916-4.

Notes and References

1. Valerio-Mendoza . O . Armendáriz-Toledano . F . Cuéllar-Rodríguez . G . Negrón . José F . Zúñiga . G . 2017-09-01 . The Current Status of the Distribution Range of the Western Pine Beetle, Dendroctonus brevicomis (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in Northern Mexico . Journal of Insect Science . en . 17 . 5 . 10.1093/jisesa/iex070 . 1536-2442 . 5597856 . 28922899.
2. Book: Will, Kip . Field Guide to California Insects . Gross . Joyce . Rubinoff . Daniel . Powell . Jerry A. . . 2020 . 9780520288744 . Oakland, California . 265.
3. April 1, 2003 . Western Pine Beetle Kindles Fire Concerns in California . BioCycle . 44 . 4 . 53.