Bark Beetle
Category: Miscellaneous
Scientific Name: Scolytidae
Identification:
Color: brown reddish brown or black
Size: 1/64- 3/8 of an inch
Region: Found worldwide
Important Considerations:
- The name Bark Beetle comes from their dependence on bark for their survival.
- These beetles cannot infest wood that does not have bark, or bark that is dried out. Therefore, if found in homes, they are just nuisance pests.
- These beetles do not cause structural damage and only cause scoring on the outer surface.
Where to Find Them on Your Property?
Signs of an infestation include piles of sawdust near entrance holes in the bark and scoring on the outside. Beetles can live in infested bark for up to a year after the tree is killed. If a structure is built using infested wood, beetles will often emerge near windows or other light sources. They can also be brought into the house on firewood, but are only nuisance pests at this point.