CHARACTERISTICS AND APPEARANCE OF ELM BARK BEETLES

Scolytus beetles are small (Table 10) and can be recognized by their concave abdomen (Photo 34). Scolytus spp. have a shiny black thorax with straight black (e.g. S. laevis) or red-brown (e.g. S. scolytus, S. multistriatus and S. pygmaeus) elytra (wing covers). Pteleobius spp. and H. rufipes  have a uniformly dull brownish black color. The antennae of P. vittatus  are black, those of P. kraatzi  are yellow-braun. The body and legs of the H.rufipes, Scolytus and Pteleobius beetles are covered with fine bristles, while the front of the head of Scolytus spp. and H. rufipes carries setae (hairs). The density and appearance of these hairs is sex-dependent for S. scolytus and S. multistriatus {[230],[332],[345],[380]}.

Photo 34:        S. multistriatus in a twig crotch. Note the red-brown elytra (Courtesy of P. Svihra, University of California, Novato, CA, USA)