Dendroctonus valens

Dendroctonus valens
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Curculionidae
Genus: Dendroctonus
Species:
D. valens
Binomial name
Dendroctonus valens
LeConte, 1860
Synonyms
  • Dendroctonus beckeri (Thatcher, 1954)
  • Dendroctonus rhizophagus Thomas & Bright

Dendroctonus valens, also known as the red turpentine beetle, is a species of bark beetle characterized by a dark-reddish brown hue. It is native to forests across North and Central America. [1] [2] In its adult form, these beetles range from six to ten millimeters in length. A notable characteristic about them is their use of acoustic signals and chemical cues when engaging in what is a very complex mating process. [3]

While harmless in its native range, D. valens is a very destructive pest in China, where it was introduced and subsequently spread through wood shipments. It has killed more than six million pine trees across the country and biological control programs are currently being used to combat its deleterious effects on Chinese ecology.[4]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference issg was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Dendroctonus valens (red turpentine beetle)". Invasive Species Compendium. CABI. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Mating was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ciesla was invoked but never defined (see the help page).