The Banded Elm Bark Beetle: A New Threat to the Elms in North America

Abstract

An exotic bark beetle from Asia, the banded elm bark beetle, Scolytus schevyrewi, has been discovered in 21 states of the United States. Although its point of entry is not known, a survey of museum specimens suggests that it has been in the US for at least 10 years. It is most abundant in western states, attacks primarily American and Siberian elms, and carries spores of the fungal pathogen for Dutch elm disease. In Colorado, S. schevyrewi appears to compete successfully with the more familiar smaller European elm bark beetle, Scolytus multistriatus. The host range, chemical ecology, and impact of S. schevyrewi are under investigation. The insect will likely have a significant deleterious effect on elms in the urban and peri-urban landscapes of North America.