Pityokteines

Type species

Ips curvidens Germar

Adapted from Wood 1982, p. 656-662

Diagnosis

Pityokteines is distinguished from the similar Orthotomicus Ferrari by the rounded lateral margins of the declivitydeclivity:
the apical portion of the beetle elytra that slopes downward
, the apicalapical:
situated at the apex or extreme outer edge of a structure or appendage
margin which is not clearly raised, and the abundant vestiturevestiture:
a surface covering of scales or setae on the body, wing, or other appendage
on the head and anterior parts of the pronotumpronotum:
the upper or dorsal surface of the first thoracic segment
in females. Males usually have a pair of smaller spines pointing forward in the top margin of the declivitydeclivity:
the apical portion of the beetle elytra that slopes downward
between the first and largest pair of marginalmarginal:
pertaining to the more or less narrow part of a surface within the edge
spines.

Description

Species in this genus range from 1.6 to 2.9 mm in length and are approximately 2.5 to 2.8 times as long as wide. Their color ranges from brown to very dark brown. The pronotumpronotum:
the upper or dorsal surface of the first thoracic segment
is longer than wide with the anterior half asperateasperate:
of a surface or texture which is rough
. The scutellumscutellum:
a shield-like bony plate or scale, as on the thorax of some insects
is large and flushed with the 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 sulcatesulcate:
having narrow, deep furrows or grooves
(concave), with the lateral margins armedarmed:
having a sclerotized surface structure, giving a rough texture; may serve as defense
by three pairs of spines, the second pair the largest, the first the smallest and displaced towards the suture; from one to two tuberclestubercles:
stiff, pointed, tapered processes on the surface of the integument, usually shorter than a spine
can be present between the second and third spines. The declivital apicalapical:
situated at the apex or extreme outer edge of a structure or appendage
margin ridge is greatly reduced in this genus, compared to Orthotomicus. The vestiturevestiture:
a surface covering of scales or setae on the body, wing, or other appendage
is of abundant and long 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
. 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
and has two straight suturessutures:
a seam or seam-like line of contact between two sclerites or hardened body parts immovably connected
on the anterior face. The procoxaeprocoxae:
extra segment occasionally preceding coxa (hip joint) of the first or anterior pair of legs of arthropods
area contiguouscontiguous:
sharing an edge or boundary; touching
.

Distribution

North America and northern Eurasia

World fauna

Number of species: 9, Native species: 6, Introduced species: 0

Hosts

Abies, Pinus, Picea, Pseudotsuga