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Two Pine Bark Beetle Predators: The Dubious Checkered Beetle and The Long-legged Fly
In a recent post on our TrueTreeTalk blog, we told you about pine bark beetles. We also had a post about blue stain fungi, which is associated with the beetles. In today’s post, we take a brief look at two pine bark beetle predators: the dubious checkered beetle and the long-legged fly.
The Dubious Checkered Beetle
The dubious checkered beetle (Thanasimus dubious) is a small beetle ranging in size from around 0.27 to 0.35 inch. As adults, they have six legs, hairs on their bodies, and antennae. They are red in color with wavy black and white bands on their hind part, and dark-colored legs with orange ends. They are part of the Cleridae beetle family.
Dubious checkered beetles can sense the pheromones emitted by southern pine beetles (as well as Ips beetles) and are attracted to them. They can also sense chemicals emitted by trees that have an infestation. The checkered beetles arrive at infested trees and lay their eggs in the bark. The larvae go through holes made by southern pine beetles and they consume the eggs of bark beetles inside. As the larvae get older, they eat southern pine beetles at all stages of their lives. They move through the tunnels made by the bark beetles, and also make their own tunnels, looking for prey. They also eat other bark beetles, such as Ips beetles.
Long-legged Fly
The long-legged fly (Medetera bistriata), a dolichopodid fly, can be found throughout North America in areas with pines and other conifers. They are a small fly with six legs, two translucent wings, and iridescent colors on their backs. Like the dubious checkered beetle, they are attracted to pheromones released by bark beetles, will go to trees with infestations, and they lay their eggs near holes made by bark beetles. While they are larvae, the long-legged fly is a predator of bark beetles, in particular Dendroctonus frontalis, and consumes their eggs, larvae, and pupae, using venom that paralyzes their prey. They also eat larvae of Ips beetles. After their larva stage, they eat other things.
If you liked learning about these two bark beetle predators, check out the other posts on our TrueTreeTalk blog and follow us on Facebook to keep up with these and other posts. If you think you might have pine bark beetles or are interested in trying to prevent them, contact us to arrange for an appointment. An arborist can let you know what could be right for your situation.
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ArborTrue is a science-based tree-service company in the greater Houston area. We provide a range of services including tree trimming, tree pruning, tree removal, tree planting, arborist consultations, and more. Call us today at 832-980-8733 or reach out to us online to schedule an appointment.
