Behavior of The Southern Pine Beetle on the Bark of Host Trees During Mass Attack

Twenty-two percent of the southern pine beetles, Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), that landed on the bark during the 1st 4 days of mass attack in east Texas, eventually entered the tree. Other beetles either flew away (43%), dropped off the host (32%), or were eaten (2%). No significant difference in searching time or distance traveled was found for day of attack or beetle sex. Males spent significantly less total time on the bark than females.