Tomicus destruens

Blastophagus

Crops: Pines

DESCRIPTION: In this species there is no sexual dimorphism, the two sexes are very similar. Adults are cylindrical beetles between 4 and 5 mm in length. The head and thorax are shiny black, while the elytra are reddish brown and may be darker. The legs are strong and small, brown in color. The head is hardly visible from the dorsum, as it is almost hidden by the highly developed prothorax. The rostrum is short, with antennae ending in an ovoid mace with four segments. Pronotum longer than wide, narrowed anteriorly. The elytra are striated, these striae are formed by thickly spaced dots and the interstriae have regular pilosity. Immature specimens have an orange coloration, with no distinction between head, thorax and abdomen. The abdomen is not well sclerotized and is translucent, revealing the wings under the elytra. Once exposed to light, they acquire the coloration of maturity.

Generations: Its biological cycle is a single annual generation with several sister generations.

Damage: The damage caused to the masses is of two types; on the one hand, the imagos in the maturation phase cause the death of twigs when they feed on their pith. On the other hand, and much more serious are the damages caused by larvae. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae begin to feed on the phloem, entering slightly into the xylem, which causes the galleries to be engraved in the wood. These larval galleries, in case of heavy infestation, completely interrupt the circulation of the tree, causing its certain death.