Tomicus piniperda

Common pine shoot beetle

Description

Adults are cylindrical and range from 3 to 5 mm in length. It completes one generation per year. Adults occur in the end of winter in very early spring, often as early as March and April (even in February in the southern parts of Europe). After mating, females construct individual vertical egg galleries within the inner bark and outer sapwood, which are slightly s-shaped, 10–14 cm long. After hatching, larvae construct horizontal feeding galleries that are 5–10 cm long. Most larvae complete development, pupate, and transform into adults in May and June. Adults emerge from the trunk through round exit holes. They fly into pine crowns and bore into healthy pine sprouts. During this period of maturation-feeding, each adult may destroy 1 to 6 sprouts. It is a univoltine species but there are many sister generations. It is considered one of the most serious scolytid pine pests in Europe.

Symptom

Adults are cylindrical and range from 3 to 5 mm in length. Vertical egg galleries within the inner bark and outer sapwood, which is slightly s-shaped, 10-14 cm long.

Tree Species: Pine

Part of a plant- attacked: Tree trunk

Pest significance: Very harmful

Pest Category: Insects

Invasive Species: No

Present in EU: Yes