Tomicus minor

Lesser pine shoot beetle

Description

Adult beetles fly in very early spring, often as early as March and April. The female flies onto thin parts of pine trunks and branches. After mating, they construct horizontal bird-shaped galleries (up to 12 cm long and 2 mm wide) with sparse and short (2-3 cm) larval tunnels. The can be find mainly under the thin bark on standing trees. Above an egg gallery is located a series of ventilation holes. Larvae pupate deep in sapwood. Young adults fly into pine crowns and bore into healthy pine sprouts where they realize maturation-feeding inside the sprouts. Damaged trees can be later attacked by secondary insect species. This species is widespread in Europe and occasionally can cause serious damages in stands of middle age classes.

Symptom

A bird-shaped galleries (up to 12 cm long and 2 mm wide) with sparse and short (2-3 cm) larval tunnels. They can be find mainly under the thin bark on standing trees.

Tree Species: Pine

Part of a plant- attacked: Tree trunk, Branch

Pest significance: Very harmful

Pest Category: Insects

Invasive Species: No

Present in EU: Yes

Seasonal frequency of occurrence