Elm Bark Beetle

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Category: Insects and Mites Bark Beetles
Name of Pest: Elm Bark Beetle. Hylurgopinus rufipes (Eichoff); the native elm bark beetle colytus multistriatus (Marsham); the smaller European elm bark beetle
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Scolytidae
Host Plants:
Several species of elms (Ulmus ); the American elm, in particular.
Description:
Both of these species are important solely for their ability to inadvertently vector (transmit) Dutch elm disease to healthy, susceptible elms. The smaller European elm bark beetle is far more aggressive, and therefore more successful, at colonizing weakened elms. They often virtually exclude the native elm bark beetle from any particular tree. However, the native elm bark beetle is more successful in the northern areas of New York, New England and in Canada where the low winter temperatures limit the success of the other species (USDA).

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