Scolytus ratzeburgi
Birch bark beetle
The adult lives from June to August. From the maternal gallery, which is simple, vertical and up to 15–20 cm long comes out a dense system of markedly long larval tunnels slightly cut into sapwood and ending with the pupal chamber placed in the phloem. On the surface of trunks there is a striking thick line of ventilation holes (with a diameter of about 2–2.5 mm). They are arranged above the maternal gallery in the 10–20 cm long vertical line. There are often several galleries on one trunk. It attacks especially dying and weakened trees. Lives under the bark of thinner stems or thicker branches of birch Betula spp. Eurosiberian species occurs everywhere in Europe, but more common only in larger, pure birch forest stands.
Gallery in the bark. On the surface of trunks there is a striking line of ventilation holes (with a diameter of about 2–2.5 mm).
Tree Species: Birch
Part of a plant- attacked: Tree trunk
Pest significance: Harmful
Pest Category: Insects
Invasive Species: No
Present in EU: Yes
Pest group: Insect
Affected part of wood: Bark, Underbark area
Depth of damages: Under bark only
The extent of damage: Lokally
Prevalence in Europe: Rare
Damaged products: Firewood, Fresh timber logs (water still in the sapwood), Stored timber logs (dried wood)
Roundwood size: Diameter 50+, Diameter from 10 up to 50 cm, Diameter up to 10 cm
Wood discoloration: No
Exit holes: Round
Pest subcategory: Bark and underbark insect
Similar pests

Xyleborus monographus

Hylesinus varius (=fraxini)




























