Orthotomicus

Type species

Bostrichus laricis Fabricius

Adapted from Wood 1982, p. 662-663

Diagnosis

Orthotomicus can be distinguished from similar spine-bearing genera in having the third and lowest pair of spines displaced toward the elytral sutureelytral suture:
the longitudinal junction line between each elytron of adult Coleoptera
and away from the margin. The declivital margindeclivital margin:
the point where the declivity starts descending from the top or sides of the elytra; also the apical extreme of the elytra
is elevated in a distinct ridge, unlike in Pityokteines Fuchs.

Description

Species in this genus range from 2.4 to 3.3 mm in length and are approximately 2.5 times as long as wide. The color is dark reddish brown. The pronotumpronotum:
the upper or dorsal surface of the first thoracic segment
is usually longer than wide. The scutellumscutellum:
a shield-like bony plate or scale, as on the thorax of some insects
is large and flush with elytraelytra:
the two external and hardened or sclerotized forewings of adult Coleoptera, often appearing leather-like in texture
. The declivitydeclivity:
the apical portion of the beetle elytra that slopes downward
is concave, with three pairs of spines in the margins; the lowest is displaced towards the suture. The vestiturevestiture:
a surface covering of scales or setae on the body, wing, or other appendage
consists of usually long and erect hair-like setaehair-like setae:
setae that are thin and similar to a hair
. The anterior margin of the compound eye is emarginateemarginate:
notched or indented
to sinuatesinuate:
descriptive of a narrow and winding thin structure or margin of a feature
. The scapescape:
the first and basal segment of the insect's antennae
is usually longer than its 5-segmented funiclefunicle:
the antennal segments located between the scape and the club in some Coleoptera
. The clubclub:
the apical segment of the insect antennae that is enlarged or thickened such that it is anatomically differentiated from the preceding segments
is obliquely truncateobliquely truncate:
pertaining to a structure abruptly and concavely cut
with two recurvedrecurved:
bent backward or downward as a smiley face
sutures, though sinuatesinuate:
descriptive of a narrow and winding thin structure or margin of a feature
in latidens and spinifer. The procoxaeprocoxae:
extra segment occasionally preceding coxa (hip joint) of the first or anterior pair of legs of arthropods
are contiguouscontiguous:
sharing an edge or boundary; touching
.

Distribution

Coniferous forests of northern North America, Europe, and Asia

World fauna

Number of species: 13, Native species: 3, Introduced species: 1

Established exotic species

Orthotomicus erosus is present in California.

Hosts

Pinus, Picea, Larix