When Scolytines are Flying...

I picked a good week to do bark-beetle monitoring. Only three days out and the Lindgren Funnels are producing large numbers of bark beetles.

As far as I can tell there are at least 5 different species of Scolytinae in there, and at least a few other things, a possible laemophloeid and a couple latridiids. Soon the bark beetle predators will have to start arriving, the histerids, clerids, and trogositids. This community needs some balance.

Of course I would have known the bark beetles were flying even if I hadn't put out these highly specialized traps. Because they are literally everywhere! Yesterday evening working out in the yard they were scattered all over the sides of the house, the patio, the cars, our hair. It is a remarkable flight. It will be interesting to see how long it goes on.