Red Turpentine Beetle

Dendroctonus valens Lec.

From: Field Guide to Diseases and Insect Pests of Idaho and Montana Forests, USDA Forest Service Northern Region, Publication Number R1-89-54

Hosts. – Ponderosa and lodgepole pine. Can infest any pine species and is infrequently found in other conifers.

Distribution. – Wherever host species are found in Idaho and Montana.

Damage. – Adults and larvae feed in phloem layer. Blue stain fungi are introduced; however, seldom are trees attacked in sufficient numbers to kill them. Typically, largest and weakest trees are attacked. Trees injured by fire, logging operations, or other damage are preferred.

Identification. – Look for very large, red pitch tubes (fig. 35) concentrated around the basal 3 feet of tree. Egg galleries are irregular in shape but usually vertical and from one-eighth to one-fourth inch wide. Galleries may extend below ground line. Larvae feed in a mass from June to October and make a f an-shaped gallery (fig. 36). Adults are the largest in the genus averaging nearly three-eighths inch long, and are distinctly red-brown. Adults fly and attack from spring to midsummer.

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Figure 35 - Large, reddish-brown pitch tubes showing attack sites of Red Turpentine Beetle. Attacks are usually confined to lower 3 feet of bole.	Figure 36 - Fan-shaped larval gallery pattern of Red Turpentine Beetle.

Similar damages. – May be mistaken for other bark beetles, but large "pitch tube," gallery, and size of beetle distinguish red turpentine beetle.

Link to Images in Forestry Images

References.

Anonymous. 1982. For. Insect & disease identification and management. USDA For. Serv., Northern Region; Idaho Dept. of Lands, Insect and Disease Control; Montana Dept. of State Lands, Division of Forestry. 192 p.

Furniss, R. L., and V. M. Carolin. 1977.  Western For. Insects. USDA Forest Serv., Misc. pub. 1339, 654 p., illus.

Smith, R. H. 1961. Red turpentine beetle. USDA For. Serv., Forest Pest Leaflet 55, 8 p., illus.

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