Native bark beetles and wood borers in mediterranean forests of California

Abstract

Several species of bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae), and to a much lesser extent wood borers (primarily Coleoptera: Buprestidae and Cerambycidae), are capable of causing conifer mortality in Mediterranean forests of California, U.S. This mortality is an important part of the ecology of these ecosystems, but the economic and social implications can be significant when outbreaks occur. I review the ecology, impact and management of the more notable species, including western pine beetle, Dendroctonus brevicomis LeConte, mountain pine beetle, D. ponderosae Hopkins, Jeffrey pine beetle, D. jeffreyi Hopkins, red turpentine beetle, D. valens LeConte, California fivespined ips, Ips paraconfusus Lanier, pine engraver, I. pini (Say), pinyon ips, I. confusus LeConte, fir engraver, Scolytus ventralis LeConte, cedar bark beetles, Phloeosinus spp., and several wood borers.