Adults are tiny (about 2 to 6 mm in length), cylindrical, reddish-brown to black, with the pronotum concealing the head when viewed from above. The posterior part of the elytra (wing coverings) is hollowed down, coarsely pierced, and surrounded by numerous spines.
Adult beetles are cylindrical, dark red-brown to black, and 1/8-3/16 inch (3-5 mm) long. Some species can grow to be as long as 1/4 inch 6 mm.
Larvae are typical C-shaped and are indistinguishable from the larvae of other bark beetle species. Ips calligraphus, six-spined ips, 3.5 to 6.5 mm long, with six spines on each
Host plants:
Pines and spruce are host plants
Territory:
All three Ips species are found in Florida in regions where pines grow. Ips calligraphus has two recognized subspecies: Ips calligraphus, distributed over much of the eastern United States and north to southern Ontario, Canada, and Ips calligraphus ponderosae, which is found in the western United States.
Damage caused by Ips Beetles/Pine Engravers:
—In standing trees, fading tips of large trees or whole crowns of small trees may indicate Ips spp. Infection Other external evidence includes accumulations of boring dust in bark cracks and around the tree’s base (. Pitch tubes are occasionally observed on the trunk. The engraver beetle gets its name from its distinctive egg galleries that may be discovered beneath the bark, gently etching the sapwood. Look for uninteresting dust and galleries in slash.
Life history and Habits:
Every year, beetles have 2 to 4 generations, depending on climate, species, and elevation. Adult beetles emerge from material infected the previous autumn and fly to attack new victims in the spring. Beetles prefer new debris from logging, building, or natural occurrences, but live trees may be attacked during outbreaks.
