Scolytinae

Basic morphology, characters and

tribes

Bob Rabaglia – US Forest Service

Rick Hoebeke – U. of Georgia
Marc DiGirolomo – US Forest Service
2016
BASIC BODY PARTS OF SCOLYTINAE
Declivity

Elytra
Pronotum

Prosternum Mesosternum Metasternum Abdominal

sternites
BASIC BODY PARTS OF SCOLYTINAE
Abdominal Metacoxa Mesocoxa Mesosternum Procoxa
sternite 5

Metasternum

Abdominal
sternite 1 Metepisternum Proepisternum
BASIC BODY PARTS OF SCOLYTINAE

Scutellum
Apex

Pronotum

Elytral
base Suture
BASIC BODY PARTS OF SCOLYTINAE
Striae are the series of large, linearly arranged, punctures.
They (and interstriae) are counted from the suture (sutural
stria = 1).
Interstria
Stria 2
Stria Interstria 2
Stria 1 (sutural)
Interstria 1
(sutural)

Interstriae are the more-or-less flattened ridges between

striae. Interstriae may or may not be punctate - if so, the
punctures are normally smaller than those of the striae.
BASIC BODY PARTS OF SCOLYTINAE

Frons

Epistoma
BASIC BODY PARTS OF SCOLYTINAE
Antenna Leg

Coxa

Scape Femur

Club Tibia
Funicle

Tarsi
A Few Technical Terms
Acuminate: strongly and abruptly tapered to a narrow apex
Asperities: small, sharp elevations or teeth
Contiguous: touching or in contact
Corneous: of a hard, smooth texture
Crenulations: blunt, rounded teeth or scallops
Procurved: curving anteriorly
Recurved: curving posteriorly
Setose: covered with setae
Spine: a thorn-shaped, generally pointed process emerging
from a surface, normally longer than wide
Sulcate: channeled or grooved
Tubercle: a bump, a generally rounded process emerging
from a surface, generally no longer than wide
Vestiture: a clothing of hairs or scales
Scolytidae
Hylesininae Scolytinae
Hylastini Scolytini Xyloterini
Hylesinini Ctenophorini Cryphalini
Tomicini Micracini Corthylini
Bothrosternini Cactopinini Pityophthorina
Phloeotribini Ipini
Phloeosinini Dryocoetini
Hypoborini Crypturgini
Polygraphini Xyleborini
Curculionidae: Scolytinae
Hylesinini Scolytini
Hylastina Scolytina Xyloterina
Hylesinina Ctenophorina Cryphalina
Tomicina Micracina Pityophthorina
Bothrosternina Cactopinina Corthylina
Phloeotribina Ipina
Phloeosinina Dryocoetina
Hypoborina Crypturgina
Polygraphina Xyleborina
Scolytinae

Hylastini Scolytini Xyloterini

Hylesinini Ctenophorini Cryphalini
Hylurgini Micracidini Pityophthorini
Bothrosternini Cactopinini Corthylini
Phloeotribini Ipini
Phloeosinini Dryocoetini
Hypoborini Crypturgini
Polygraphini Xyleborini
Scolytinae (540)

Hylastini (24) Scolytini (23) Xyloterini (7)

Hylesinini (10) Ctenophorini (2) Cryphalini (41)
Hylurgini (27) Micracidini (50) Pityophthorini (133)
Bothrosternini (2) Cactopinini (6) Corthylini (16)
Phloeotribini (9) Ipini (43)
Phloeosinini (35) Dryocoetini (22)
Hypoborini (12) Crypturgini (4)
Polygraphini (24) Xyleborini (50)
Hylastini
Hylurgops: 7 spp. - throughout N.A. (1 introduced sp., palliatus);
Pachysquamus: 1 sp – native in W. US (formerly Hylurgops);
Hylastes: 14 spp. - throughout N.A. (1 introduced sp., opacus)
Scierus: 2 spp. - N & W N.A.;

Hylurgops Hylastes
Hylastini
Hylurgops, Pachysquamus, Hylastes, Scierus

• Head visible from above

• All tibiae bearing several teeth, none extending

beyond tarsal insertion

• Crenulations of elytral bases obsolete

Hylastes salebrosus Eichhoff

Hylesinini
Hylastinus: 1 sp. (obscurus, introduced), across N.A.;
Alniphagus: 2 spp. - W N.A.;
Hylesinus: 7 spp. - across N.A.

Hylastinus Alniphagus Hylesinus

Hylesinini
Hylastinus, Alniphagus, Hylesinus

• Anterior margin of elytra procurved, bearing series

of crenulations

• Pronotum asperate on anterolateral areas

Hylesinus Hylastinus
Hylurgini
Hylurgopinus: 1 sp. (rufipes) - E N.A.;
Pseudohylesinus: 9 spp. - W N.A.;
Xylechinus: 2 spp. - N & W N.A.;
Hylurgus: 1 sp. (ligniperda, introduced) – NY, CA;
Tomicus: 1 sp. (piniperda, introduced) - NE N.A.;
Dendroctonus: 13 spp. - throughout N.A.

Hylurgopinus Xylechinus Hylurgus Tomicus Dendroctonus

Hylurgini
Hylurgopinus, Pseudohylesinus, Xylechinus, Hylurgus, Tomicus, Dendroctonus

• Anterior margin of elytra procurved, bearing series of

crenulations
• Prothoracic precoxal area short; lateral precoxal ridge present
or absent
• Anterolateral areas of pronotum unarmed
• Eyes entire to feebly marginate
• Antennal funicle 5-7 segmented
Bothrosternini
Cnesinus: 1 sp. (strigicollis) - SE U.S. & Mexico;
Pagiocerus: 1 sp. (frontalis) - NC to Mexico

Cnesinus
Bothrosternini
Cnesinus, Pagiocerus
• Anterior margins of elytra procurved, armed by
series of crenulations

• Prothorax longitudinally strigose

Phloeotribini
Phloeotribus: 9 spp. - transcontinental in U.S. (2 in W U.S., 7 in E U.S.)

Phloeotribus
Phloeotribini
Phloeotribus

• Antennal club pseudolamellate, club divided into 3

movable segmental units

Pseudolamellate club.
Phloeosinini
Dendrosinus: 1 sp. (bourreriae) - Florida Keys;
Phloeosinus: 25 spp. - 3 in E U.S., remainder in W U.S.;
Chramesus: 9 spp. - transcontinental in U.S.

Phloeosinus Chramesus
Phloeosinini
Dendrosinus, Phloeosinus, Chramesus
• Anterior margins of elytra procurved, armed by
series of crenulations

• Antennal club fused at sutures, sutures oblique, or

partly or entirely obsolete

Phloeosinus
Hypoborini
Chaetophloeus: 10 spp. - mostly W N.A.;
Liparthrum: 2 spp. - AZ & MS, IN

Liparthrum
Chaetophloeus
Hypoborini
Chaetophloeus, Liparthrum

• Anterior margins of elytra procurved, armed by series of

crenulations (from suture to interstriae 5 prominent)

• Scutellum not visible, elytral bases straight

Chaetophloeus
Polygraphini
Polygraphus: 3 spp. - throughout U.S.;
Carphoborus: 20 spp. - throughout U.S.;
Carphobius: 1 sp. (arizonicus) - Arizona

Carphoborus
Polygraphus
Polygraphini
Polygraphus, Carphoborus, Carphobius

• Anterior margins of elytra procurved, armed by series of

crenulations

• Scutellum not visible

• Eyes emarginate or completely divided

Scolytini
Scolytus: 21 spp. - across N.A. ; 4 spp introduced
Loganius: 2 spp. - Florida Keys (formerly Cnemonyx)

Scolytus Cnemonyx
Scolytini
Scolytus, Loganius
• Lateral margin of anterior and posterior tibia unarmed,
except for single curved process at outer apical angle

• Area around scutellum impressed

• Elytra not declivous

Process Scolytus
no
teeth
Ctenophorini
Pycnarthrum: 1 sp. (hispidum) - S FL, TX;
Scolytodes: 1 sp. (schwarzi) - S FL (>100 spp. in C. & S.A.)
Ctenophorina
Pycnarthrum, Scolytodes

• Lateral margin of pronotum subacutely elevated,

basal margin finely elevated
Micracidini
Stenocleptus: 1 sp. - CA;
Pseudothysanoes: 18 spp. - throughout U.S.;
Thysanoes: 7 spp. - S U.S.;
Hylocurus: 15 spp. - mostly SE U.S.;
Micracis: 4 spp. - throughout U.S.;
Micracisella: 5 spp. - E & S U.S.

Thysanoes Hylocurus Micracisella

Micracidini
Stenocleptus, Pseudothysanoes, Thysanoes, Hylocurus, Micracis, Micracisella

• Lateral margin of anterior tibia armed by several tooth-like

processes
• Procoxae subcontiguous, but separated
• Foretibia with sides parallel to the apex, mostly armed on
apical margin by small teeth
Cactopinini
Cactopinus: 6 spp. - SW U.S. (cactus & pine)
Cactopinini
Cactopinus
Ipini
Pityogenes: 7 spp. – across N.A.; 1 sp. introduced (bidentatus NE);
Pityokteines: 6 spp. - across N.A.;
Orthotomicus: 4 sp. - across N.A.; 1 sp. introduced (erosus in CA)
Ips: 23 spp. - across N.A.;
Pseudips: 2 spp. - W N.A.
Premnobius: 1 sp. (cavipennis), introduced to FL;

Pityogenes Pityokteines Orthotomicus Ips

Ipini
Pityogenes, Pityokteines, Orthotomicus, Ips, Pseudips, Premnobius
• Meso- and metathoracic tibiae more abruptly narrowed on
apical fourth

• Elytral declivity moderately sulcate to elaborately excavated,

with lateral margins usually armed by tubercles or spines

Ips
Dryocoetini
Dendrocranulus: 3 spp. - S & W N.A.;
Lymantor: 2 spp. - E U.S. & Canada, Alaska;
Dryocoetes: 7 spp. - across U.S., Canada;
Dactylotrypes: 1 sp - introduced into CA in palm seeds
Coccotrypes: 9 spp. - mostly FL & CA

Coccotrypes
Lymantor Dryocoetes
Dryocoetini
Dendrocranulus, Lymantor, Dryocoetes, Coccotrypes

• Meso- and metathoracic tibiae more abruptly narrowed on

apical fourth
• Pronotum with sides straight to arcuate, anterior half
declivous, usually armed

Dryocoetes
Crypturgini
Dolurgus: 1 sp. (pumilus) - W N.A.;
Crypturgus: 3 spp. – across N.A. 1 sp. introduced (pusillus)

Crypturgus

Dolurgus Crypturgus
Crypturgini
Dolurgus, Crypturgus

• Antennal funicle 2-3 segmented, club with sutures

on posterior face about equal to those of anterior
face

• Very small beetles!

Crypturgus
Xyloterini
Trypodendron: 6 spp. across N.A.; 1 sp. introduced (domesticum) WA
Xyloterinus: 1 sp. (politus), E & W N.A.

Trypodendron Xyloterinus
Xyloterini
Trypodendron, Xyloterinus

• Eyes always completely divided into two parts

• Antennal funicle 4-segmented

Trypodendron
Xyleborini
Ambrosiodmus: 7 spp. - E U.S. (mostly SE); 2 spp introduced;
Ambrosiophilus: 2 spp. – introduced (atratus E US; peregrinus GA);
Anisandrus: 4 spp. – 2 spp. Introduced (dispar across US; maiche E US);
Coptoborus: 1 sp. – native FL;
Cnestus: 1 sp – introduced E. US (mutilatus E. US)
Cyclorhipidion: 3 spp – introduced;
Dryoxylon: 1 sp. (onoharaensum, introduced);
Dryocoetoides: 1 sp. native FL;
Euwallacea: 3 sp. – introduced (validus & interjectus E US; fornicatus );
Theoborus: 1 sp. native FL;
Xyleborus: 17 spp. - across N.A. (3 introduced);
Xylosandrus: 5 spp. - 4 introduced (germanus across US;
Xyleborinus: 6 spp. - 5 introduced (saxesenii across US)
Xyleborini
Ambrosiodmus, Theoborus, Euwallacea, Ambrosiophilus, Anisandrus,
Cnestus, Dryocoetoides, Xyleborus, Xylosandrus, Xyleborinus…

Ambrosiodmus Euwallacea Xyleborus Cnestus Xyleborinus

• Eyes emarginate
• Pronotum strongly convex
• Tibia flat and broad, outer edge convex
• Tibial edge possessing numerous socketed denticles
• Antennal funicle 5-segmented
• Mycangium present, variously located
Cryphalini
Trypophloeus: 4 spp. - N & W N.A.;
Procryphalus: 2 spp. - W N.A.;
Ernoporicus: 1 sp. (kanawhae), WV;
Scolytogenes: 1 sp. (knabi), S FL;
Hypocryphalus: 1 sp. (mangiferae), S FL;
Cryphalus: 3 spp. - W N.A.; Hypothenemus

Cryptocarenus: 3 spp. - S TX & FL;

Hypothenemus: 21 spp. - across N.A.;
Trischidias: 5 spp. - SE U.S.

Cryphalus
Cryphalini
Trypophloeus, Procryphalus, Ernoporicus, Scolytogenes, Hypocryphalus,
Cryphalus, Cryptocarenus, Hypothenemus, Trischidias

• Metepisternum largely covered by elytra

• Antennal club strongly flattened
• Vestiture commonly includes scales
• Pronotum often with large asperities

Hypothenemus
Pityophthorini
Dendroterus: 2 spp. (TX, CA);
Araptus: 2 sp. S FL and mid west;
Conophthorus: 8 spp. (2 in E, 6 in W N.A.);
Pityoborus: 2 spp. - SE & SW U.S.;
Pityotrichus: 2 spp. - SW U.S.;
Pseudopityophthorus: 11 spp. - across N.A.;
Pityophthorus: 104 spp. - across N.A.

Conophthorus Pseudopityophthorus Pityophthorus

Pityophthorini
Dendroterus, Araptus, Conophthorus, Pityoborus, Pityotrichus,
Pseudopityophthorus, Pityophthorus

• Metepisternum largely covered by elytra

• Antennal funicle 5-segmented, club mostly small,

symmetrical

• Pubescence often abundant

• Mostly small to very small

bark & twig beetles
Corthylini
Corthylus: 4 spp. - U.S., Canada;
Gnathotrichus: 7 spp. – 1 in E, 6 in W;
Monarthrum: 5 spp. (2 in E, 3 in W)

Corthylus Gnathotrichus Monarthrum

Corthylini
Corthylus, Gnathotrichus, Monarthrum

• Metepisternum largely covered by elytra

• Antennal funicle 1-, 2-, or 5-segmented, club much larger,

asymmetrical in most

• Pubescence rare

• Ambrosia beetles

Gnathotrichus
Ips sexdentatus
Index of Species Indigenous to the USA: Select Image of Desired
Species

Monarthrum mali
Dendroctonus frontalis Hylastes salebrosus Ips avulsus
Pityogenes hopkinsi

Hylastes tenuis
Ips calligraphus Orthotomicus caelatus

Dendroctonus terebrans

Hylurgops rugipennis
pinifex
Ips grandicollis

Dendroctonus valens
Hypothenemus spp.
Ips pini

Pityophthorus spp.

Trypodendron lineatum
Euwallacea validus

Gnathotrichus materiarius Hylastes porculus Monarthrum fasciatum Xyloterinus politus

Thanks to:
Jim LaBonte (Oregon Department of
Ag) for images
Bjarte Jordal (U. of Bergen, Norway) for
slides on weevils