Eight-toothed spruce bark beetle - Ips amitinus Eichh.
From Bugwoodwiki
From: Kolk A., Starzyk J. R., 1996: The Atlas of Forest Insect Pests (Atlas skodliwych owadów lesnych) - Multico Warszawa, 705 pages. Original publication in Polish. English translation provided by Dr. Lidia Sukovata and others under agreement with The Polish Forest Research Institute.
Occurrence: The central Europe, occasionally the northern Europe (Finland, Sweden).
Host plants: Mainly the Norway spruce, sometimes the Scots pine, fir, larch and mountain pine.
Morphology: Similar to I. typographus. The declivity of elytrae is with 4 teeth on each margin side and very shiny. Adults are 3-4.5 mm long, dark brown.
Biology: Overwintering occurs in the larval, pupal or imaginal stage in galleries. Adults of the first generation are active in late-April through July, and those of the second generation - in July and August. The male constructs the nuptial chamber, which is well visible in the wood, and attracts 3-7 females. Females bore egg galleries, which are thinner (up to 2mm in width) than those of I. typographus. Larval galleries unlike egg galleries do not reach the sapwood.
Damage: I. amitinus attacks mainly branches and the upper part of stems, while the lower part is often attacked by I. typographus.
Preventive measures: Removal or burning of tops and thick branches in the period from October through April. Removal of dying trees from the forest during the year.
Control: Infested tops and branches should be debarked, burnt or sprayed with the contact insecticide. The use of trap trees is recommended in three periods: March, May, and July. They should be debarked in May, June and August, respectively. Searching for, cutting and removal or debarking of infested trees are also efficient.
 Photo by Robert Dzwonkowski, , Bugwood.org |  Photo by Stanislaw Kinelski, , Bugwood.org |
 Photo by Stanislaw Kinelski, , Bugwood.org |  Photo by Stanislaw Kinelski, , Bugwood.org |
