Xyleborus (beetle)

Xyleborus
Xyleborus inurbanus (female)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Curculionidae
Subfamily: Scolytinae
Tribe: Xyleborini
Genus: Xyleborus
Eichhoff, 1864
Species

About 535, see text

Synonyms
  • Anaeretus Duges, 1887
  • Anisandrus Ferrari, 1867
  • Boroxylon Hopkins, 1915
  • Heteroborips Reitter, 1913
  • Mesoscolytus Broun, 1904
  • Notoxyleborus Schedl, 1934
  • Phloeotrogus Motschulsky, 1863
  • Progenius Blandford, 1896
  • Xyleborips Reitter, 1913

Xyleborus is by far the largest ambrosia beetle genus in the tribe Xyleborini, with over 500 species.[1]

Xyleborus nowadays includes a number of formerly independent genera. In addition, the genera Coptoborus, Cryptoxyleborus and Euwallacea are often included here, too; this may be correct, as they seem to be closely related. Less often, Ambrosiodmus, Premnobius and Xyleborinus are included in Xyleborus, but they seem to be well distinct; Premnobius might even not belong to the Xyleborini at all.

The different species can be best differentiated by the gallery burrows they build and the tree species they infest. A significant member, X. dispar, causes pear blight.

  1. ^ MSU (2004)