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Hylesinus varius (=fraxini)

Ash bark beetle

Description

The ash bark beetle is the most common ash bark pest in Europe. It usually colonizes trunks of medium-aged or young trees. In case of broad-stemmed and older ash trees the beetle lives on thick branches. Its size is 2.5–3.5 mm. The gallery system consists of pairs of 6–10 cm long maternal tunnels. The larval tunnels, 3–6 cm long, are dense and parallel. The larvae push a high amount of wood debris in the form of a whitish powder out of the holes in wood. The larvae usually pupate in sapwood. The adult beetles leave the galleries through exit holes. The adults construct overwintering gallery under the bark. Characteristic galls develop over this place.

Symptom

Galleries under the bark. 

Tree Species: Ash

Part of a plant- attacked: Tree trunk

Pest significance: Harmful

Pest Category: Insects

Invasive Species: No

Present in EU: Yes

Last observations

There are a total of 38 observations of the species in the system

Hylesinus varius (=fraxini)Ash bark beetle
Michaela Kútniková
Number of votes: 0
Published: 11.1.2026

Hylesinus varius (=fraxini)Ash bark beetle
Anonymous contributor
Number of votes: 0
Published: 18.7.2025

Hylesinus varius (=fraxini)Ash bark beetle
milan
Number of votes: 0
Published: 24.5.2025

Hylesinus varius (=fraxini)Ash bark beetle
Antonella
Number of votes: 0
Published: 17.5.2025

Hylesinus varius (=fraxini)Ash bark beetle
Irena
Number of votes: 0
Published: 4.5.2025