Description

Adult

Small and cylindrical, dark brown, shiny and hairy, 4.2-5.5 mm long. Pronotum with teeth on front.
Elytral cavity with 4 teeth on each lateral edge.

Larvae

Small white and legless with a brown head and brown mandibles.

Distribution

Europe and Asia.

Economic Host(s)

Predominantly spruces (Larix) but also fir (Abies), larch (Larix) and pine (Pinus)

Symptoms/Signs

Adults usually attack basal parts of stems usually in the middle and lower parts of the tree. The entrance holes can be seen in stems below the base of the crown. Frass may also be present near the holes. The gallery system consists of a main nuptial chamber and 2-4 main longitudinal maternal galleries. Trees attacked develop yellow to brown crowns and needles fall. Woodpeckers remove bark to feed on the larvae.

Generations:

Usually 2 but 3 during warm summers