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Scolytus ratzeburgi

Birch bark beetle

Description

The adult lives from June to August. From the maternal gallery, which is simple, vertical and up to 15–20 cm long comes out a dense system of markedly long larval tunnels slightly cut into sapwood and ending with the pupal chamber placed in the phloem. On the surface of trunks there is a striking thick line of ventilation holes (with a diameter of about 2–2.5 mm). They are arranged above the maternal gallery in the 10–20 cm long vertical line. There are often several galleries on one trunk. It attacks especially dying and weakened trees. Lives under the bark of thinner stems or thicker branches of birch Betula spp. Eurosiberian species occurs everywhere in Europe, but more common only in larger, pure birch forest stands.

Symptom

Gallery in the bark. On the surface of trunks there is a striking line of ventilation holes (with a diameter of about 2–2.5 mm).

Tree Species: Birch

Part of a plant- attacked: Tree trunk

Pest significance: Harmful

Pest Category: Insects

Invasive Species: No

Present in EU: Yes

Seasonal frequency of occurrence

Seasonal frequency of occurrence