Abstract
O. tridentatus was an almost unknown bark beetle until this study. The bionomics, ecology, distribution and economic importance of this species are described here; and preventive and control measures are recommended. It seems to be confused withO. erosus because of its very close morphological similarity.O. tridentatus is a cedar bark beetle, but cedar ist not a host ofO. erosus. The former is distinguished from the latter by the acute angle between the 2nd and 3rd teeth at the end of its abdomen, by the slight difference in the pattern of its antennal club, and by the form of its brood burrows.O. tridentatus is the most dangerous bark beetle of the cedar forest. It is monophagous and is 2.8 to 3.6 mm long. Its burrows are generally S-shaped transverse or diagonal burrows with 2 egg galleries. If there is a large concentration of beetles in a small area of a tree trunk, the burrows can be longitudinal. The entire burrow ranges 3.6 to 15 cm (average: 7 cm) in length and 1.2 to 2.2mm in width and has 40 to 164 larval burrows, the average being about 90 burrows which are from 2 to 5,5 cm long. The distribution of this species corresponds closely to that of its host,Cedrus libanotica Link. However, during this study, the bark beetle was found only at altitudes ranging from 1300 to 1700 meters. It apparently has at least two generations each year, and hibernates as a young adult. The first flight of this species takes place in the later part of April.
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