Pissodes notatus

The adult of this species is a coffee-brown beetle about 7 mm long, with an elongated head and bright spots on its elytra. The larvae of the beetle feed on the phloem in the lower parts of the tree trunk, creating thin galleries that later widen over time. The larvae pupate in pupal chambers at the end of the galleries, which are separated from the bark by a fine layer of wood debris. The damage caused to the trunk is visible, and the bark peels off easily. This beetle is known as a secondary pest, and it primarily attacks young pines that are under 15 years of age and have lowered vitality (due to damage caused by frost, drought, etc.). However, during an outbreak, even healthy trees can be attacked by this beetle.