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Considered one of the most destructive forest pests in western Canada, this insect attacks lodgepole pine, its principal host, along with western white pine, limber pine, Scots pine, and other pines. It will first attack the larger trees in a stand, usually resulting in tree mortality. The damage caused by this insect is due to larval feeding and adult activities. The females excavate adult galleries primarily in the inner bark which often cause a girdling effect. The eggs are deposited in the side, and larvae tunnel laterally from the main galleries. The beetles also carry blue-stain fungi that quickly proliferate throughout the sapwood resulting in plugged vessels. These effects will kill the tree.

Points of interest

• usually one generation per year
• foliage discoloration usually occurs the spring following attack
• average of mature larval or full-grown length is 4–7.5 mm

References

Ives, W.H.G.; Wong, H.R. 1988. Tree and shrub insects of the prairie provinces. Can. For. Serv., North. For. Cent., Edmonton, Alberta. Inf. Rep. NOR-X-292. 327 p. + xii.