European Spruce Bark Beetle

Spruce, Pine and Hybrid species

Adult adults are usually 4-5,5 mm long, cylindrical, black and brownish black in color. The front of the head and the sides of the body are covered with long yellowish hairs. Both males and females have a total of four teeth (8 teeth), a third larger, on the upper wings.

According to climatic conditions, there are 1-3 generations per year. The flight time is between the end of March and September, depending on the climatic conditions. It is essentially a secondary pest. It prefers physiologically weakened, dying or dead trees and old trees over 70 years old for breeding.

The needles of the damaged pines turn yellow, turn brown and fall off. There are red-brown powder, round exit holes in the slits of the bark. Small resin secretions are seen protruding from the bark. It also causes blue mold disease, which accelerates the death of trees, changes the color of the wood and reduces its quality.

Traps are suspended at a height of 1.5-2 m from the ground on a wooden or metal inverted L-shaped stake that is firmly fixed in the ground. 4-5 traps / ha are hung. Traps should be hung at least 6m from healthy trees.