Tomicus

Type species

Hylesinus piniperda Fabricius

Adapted from Wood and Bright 1992, pages 122-136

Diagnosis

This exotic genus from the tribe Tomicini is closely related to another introduced genus to North America, Hylurgus Latreille. Both have a 6-segmented funiclefunicle:
the antennal segments located between the scape and the club in some Coleoptera
. Tomicus are less hairy overall and the surface of both the fronsfrons:
the upper anterior portion of the head capsule
and the declivitydeclivity:
the apical portion of the beetle elytra that slopes downward
are shiny versus asperateasperate:
of a surface or texture which is rough
on Hylurgus.

Description

The size of the species on this genus ranges from 2.9 to 5.4 mm in length. The elytral color ranges from yellowish brown to almost black with a darker pronotumpronotum:
the upper or dorsal surface of the first thoracic segment
. The pronotumpronotum:
the upper or dorsal surface of the first thoracic segment
is wider than long, shiny and unarmedunarmed:
having no granules, teeth, tubercles, spines, or other protective structures
. The scutellumscutellum:
a shield-like bony plate or scale, as on the thorax of some insects
is small and depresseddepressed:
a structure that is flattened or impressed
. The declivitydeclivity:
the apical portion of the beetle elytra that slopes downward
is convex bearing interstrial granulesgranules:
a small grain-like elevation
with a vestiturevestiture:
a surface covering of scales or setae on the body, wing, or other appendage
of erect hair-like setaehair-like setae:
setae that are thin and similar to a hair
. The fronsfrons:
the upper anterior portion of the head capsule
has a median vertical carinacarina:
a ridge or elevation of the cuticle
above the epistomaepistoma:
the sclerotized region between the lower frontal area and the mouth parts
. The anterior margin of the compound eye is entire. The scapescape:
the first and basal segment of the insect's antennae
is as long as the 6-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 ovateovate:
egg shaped, with the narrow end apically
with three straight suturessutures:
a seam or seam-like line of contact between two sclerites or hardened body parts immovably connected
. 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
with no prothoracic elevated ridges.

Distribution

Africa, Europe, and Asia

World fauna

Number of species: 6, Native species: 0, Introduced species: 1

Established exotic species

Tomicus piniperda is present in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa.

Hosts

Abies, Picea and Pinus