Description

Adult

Largest Ips beetle, 5.5-8.2 mm in length. Entirely dark brown with an excavated cavity at rear or elytra. Lateral margins of cavity each with a row of 6 spines. Erect yellow hairs cover the perimeter of the body.

Larvae

Small white and legless with a brown head.

Distribution

Europe and most parts of Asia

Economic Host(s)

Pine (Pinus), larix (Larix) and spruce (Picea)

Symptoms/Signs

The first sign of infestation is fading in colour from green to yellow or reddish-brown and brown dust on the bark surface. The gallery pattern in the cambium of infested trees consists of a nuptial chamber and 2-5 longitudinal egg galleries, 15-100 cm long with a blue stain. Round exit holes ca. 4mm in diameter may also be seen.

Generations:

Typically 2 but up to 5 in warmer climates