(Tetropium fuscum)

Photo 47: Klause Bolte, Natural Resources Canada

Biology

• adults are 10-15 mm long (1/2 in) with a dark head and thorax, and a brown abdomen
• larvae are whitish and 25 mm long (1 in) when mature
• the beetle has a one-year life cycle, overwintering as a mature larva
• in Eurasia, the beetle attacks Pine, Spruce, Fir, and Larch
• only Spruce (especially Red Spruce) has been attacked in North America
• larvae feed on inner bark, especially in the lower part of the trunk
• infected trees show excessive resin running down the trunk from many wounds
• leaves (needles) turn yellow then brown

History in Canada

• introduced from Eurasia probably in solid wood packing or crating material
• first found in the Halifax area of Nova Scotia in 1998
• has spread slowly to the surrounding area
• not known elsewhere in North America

Photo 48: Canada Food Inspection Agency

Impact on Trees

• large or mature spruce are preferred over younger trees
• heavily-infested trees die over several years

Control

• movement of spruce wood products is carefully controlled in the Halifax area to contain the spread of the beetle
• plans are underway to destroy all spruce trees in the affected Halifax area
• there are some native parasites and predators that appear to attack the beetle

Links

• Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada. Brown Spruce Longhorn Beetle. (http://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/index/brownsprucelonghornbeetle/#july1998)
• Ontario's Forests. Ministry of Natural Resources. The Brown Spruce Longhorn Beetle. (http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MRN/forests/foresthealth/brown%20spruce/longhorn_beetle.htm#1)
• Fallacies of the Brown Spruce Longhorn Beetle. Friends of Point Pleasant Park, Nova Scotia. (http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Environment/FPPP/fallacies.html)