Stridulatory organs of the elm bark beetles Scolytus multistriatus Marsham and Scolytus scolytus Fabricius

Summary

In Scolytidae, stridulatory organs are not usually found in the sex which selects the breeding site and begins the gallery. Exceptions in the literature refer to the genera Dendroctonus and Scolytus. The presence of stridulatory organs in both sexes of the elm bark beetles S. multistriatus and S. scolytus is reported here. The structure of the stridulatory apparatus is described, and the possible role of stridulation in the behaviour of these species is discussed.