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Phaenops cyanea

Steelblue jewel beetle

Description

The adult is shiny blue, 8-11 mm in size. It swarms in July and August. The larvae overwinter in the bark. They continue in feeding in spring. They excavate characteristic galleries in phloem first, later also in sapwood. They pupate in rough bark (rhytidome). The exit holes are 6 x 3 in size. Feeding of metallic wood-boring beetle larvae on 40-60 year-old pine stands can result in sudden dieback of trees. The bark falls off the trunks, while the trees still have fully or at least partially green crowns. The dangerous species which can cause dieback of large groups of trees.

Symptom

Common species. Galleries under the bark. The D-shape exit holes are 6 x 3 in size.

Tree Species: Pine

Part of a plant- attacked: Tree trunk

Pest significance: Very harmful

Pest Category: Insects

Invasive Species: No

Present in EU: Yes

Seasonal frequency of occurrence

Seasonal frequency of occurrence