| Conophthorus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Conophthorus teocotum, Mexico | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Curculionidae |
| Subfamily: | Scolytinae |
| Tribe: | Scolytini |
| Subtribe: | Pityophthorina |
| Genus: | Conophthorus Hopkins, 1915 |
Conophthorus is a genus of "bark and ambrosia beetles" in the family Curculionidae. There are more than 20 described species in Conophthorus, found in Mexico, the United States, and Canada. [1] [2] [3] [4]
These 25 species belong to the genus Conophthorus:
The Curculionidae are a family of weevils, commonly called snout beetles or true weevils. They are one of the largest animal families with 6,800 genera and 83,000 species described worldwide. They are the sister group to the family Brentidae.
The pinyon or piñon pine group grows in southwestern North America, especially in New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and Utah. The trees yield edible nuts, which are a staple food of Native Americans, and widely eaten as a snack and as an ingredient in New Mexican cuisine. The name comes from the Spanish pino piñonero, a name used for both the American varieties and the stone pine common in Spain, which also produces edible nuts typical of Mediterranean cuisine. Harvesting techniques of the prehistoric American Indians are still used today to collect the pinyon seeds for personal use or for commercialization. The pinyon nut or seed is high in fats and calories. In the western United States, pinyon pines are often found in pinyon–juniper woodlands.
A bark beetle is the common name for the subfamily of beetles Scolytinae. Previously, this was considered a distinct family (Scolytidae), but is now understood to be a specialized clade of the "true weevil" family (Curculionidae). Although the term "bark beetle" refers to the fact that many species feed in the inner bark (phloem) layer of trees, the subfamily also has many species with other lifestyles, including some that bore into wood, feed in fruit and seeds, or tunnel into herbaceous plants. Well-known species are members of the type genus Scolytus, namely the European elm bark beetle S. multistriatus and the large elm bark beetle S. scolytus, which like the American elm bark beetle Hylurgopinus rufipes, transmit Dutch elm disease fungi (Ophiostoma). The mountain pine beetle Dendroctonus ponderosae, southern pine beetle Dendroctonus frontalis, and their near relatives are major pests of conifer forests in North America. A similarly aggressive species in Europe is the spruce ips Ips typographus. A tiny bark beetle, the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei is a major pest on coffee plantations around the world.
The term mycangium is used in biology for special structures on the body of an animal that are adapted for the transport of symbiotic fungi. This is seen in many xylophagous insects, which apparently derive much of their nutrition from the digestion of various fungi that are growing amidst the wood fibers. In some cases, as in ambrosia beetles, the fungi are the sole food, and the excavations in the wood are simply to make a suitable microenvironment for the fungus to grow. In other cases, wood tissue is the main food, and fungi weaken the defense response from the host plant.
Cryphalus is a large genus of tiny bark beetles, subfamily Scolytinae, tribe Cryphalini in the family Curculionidae. The genus is widely distributed. The species feed and breed under the inner bark of trees. They infest mainly recently dead, dying or stressed trees. Some species are regarded as invasive pests, harmful to agriculture or forestry.
Xyleborini are a tribe of ambrosia beetles, highly specialized weevils of the subfamily Scolytinae. Much of the ambrosia beetle fauna in Eurasia and the Americas consists of Xyleborini species. Some Xyleborini are notorious invasive species.
Dendroctonus is a genus of bark beetles. It includes several species notorious for destroying trees in the forests of North America. The genus has a symbiotic relationship with many different yeasts, particularly those in the genera Candida and Pichia that aid in digestion and pheromone production.
Hylastes ater is a species of beetle in the family Curculionidae, the true weevils. It is a bark beetle, a member of the subfamily Scolytinae. Its common name is the black pine bark beetle. It is native to Europe and parts of Asia, including China and Korea. It is known as an introduced species in many other regions, including Australia, New Zealand, the Americas, and South Africa. It is a pest of pines and other trees, and it is widespread in areas where pine trees are cultivated. The species "is an important threat to the biosecurity of all forested countries."
Ips is a genus of beetles in the family Curculionidae, the true weevils. They are bark beetles, members of the subfamily Scolytinae. Species are distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Some are known as introduced species in Australia and Africa. Many species are pests of forest trees, especially pines and spruces. They are known commonly as engraver beetles, ips engraver beetles, and pine engravers.
Coccotrypes is a genus of typical bark beetles in the family Curculionidae. There are about six described species in Coccotrypes.
Pseudopityophthorus is a genus of bark and ambrosia beetles in the family Curculionidae. There are more than 30 described species in Pseudopityophthorus, found mainly in North and Central America.
Conophthorus edulis, the pinon cone beetle, is a species of typical bark beetle in the family Curculionidae. It is found in North America.
Scolytini is a tribe of typical bark beetles in the family Curculionidae. There are at least 50 genera and 160 described species in Scolytini.
Phloeosinus is a genus of cedar bark beetles in the family Curculionidae. There are at least 20 described species in Phloeosinus.
Conophthorus ponderosae, known generally as the lodgepole cone beetle or sugar pinecone beetle, is a species of typical bark beetle in the family Curculionidae. It is found in North America.
Pityogenes is a genus of typical bark beetles in the family Curculionidae. There are more than 30 described species in Pityogenes.
Trischidias is a genus of typical bark beetles in the family Curculionidae. There are about 11 described species in Trischidias.
Procryphalus is a genus of typical bark beetles in the family Curculionidae. There are about seven described species in Procryphalus.
Dryocoetes is a genus of beetles belonging to the family Curculionidae, in the subfamily Scolytinae.
Euwallacea is a genus of typical bark beetles in the family Curculionidae. They are commonly known as Ambrosia beetles, as all species are symbiotic with Ambrosia fungi. Originally from Asia or Wallacea, they are now found worldwide. Many species are pests, causing damage to, or the death of, tree species valued for their fruit or timber.
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