Exotic bark and ambrosia beetles in the USA: potential and current invaders

Abstract

Bark and ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) are among the most important insects affecting trees and forests worldwide. There are approximately 6000 scolytine species worldwide, with species found on all continents except Antarctica (Table 3.1) (Wood and Bright, 1992; Bright and Skidmore, 1997, 2002; Wood, 2007). The majority of species are found in the tropics, but many also occur in boreal forests. Undoubtedly, there are hundreds of additional species that have not yet been described. Many authorities now consider the bark and ambrosia beetles a subfamily (Scolytinae) of the weevil family (Curculionidae) (Alonso- Zarazaga and Lyal, 2009), while others continue to treat them as a distinct family (Wood, 2007). In this chapter, we will use the subfamily ranking Scolytinae, but recognize that most plant protection agencies worldwide continue to use Scolytidae.

Citation

Haack, Robert A.; Rabaglia, Robert J. 2013. Exotic bark and ambrosia beetles in the USA: potential and current invaders. In: Pena, Jorge E., ed. Potential invasive pests of agricultural crops. Wallingford, UK: CABI International: 48-74. Chapter 3.