Dendroctonus brevicomis

Dendroctonus brevicomis, the western pine beetle, is a species of crenulate bark beetle in the family Curculionidae. It is found in North America^[1][2][3] and parts of Mexico.^[4] It is known as a destructive pest of ponderosa and Coulter pine trees.^[5] When drought makes these pines more susceptible to infestations by D. brevicomis, there is an increased risk of forest fires due to dead trees.^[6]

Dendroctonus brevicomis
Life stages of D. brevicomis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Suborder:	Polyphaga
Infraorder:	Cucujiformia
Family:	Curculionidae
Genus:	Dendroctonus
Species:	D. brevicomis
Binomial name
Dendroctonus brevicomis LeConte, 1876

Adult D. brevicomis are brown or black beetles 3–5 mm in length. Females carve lengthy egg galleries in the wood, damaging the trees.^[5]

Examples of D. brevicomis egg galleries in ponderosa pine