bark beetle

noun

: any of numerous beetles (family Scolytidae) that bore under the bark of trees both as a larva and as an adult

Examples of bark beetle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Sequoias need fire to reproduce, but the supercharged blazes of recent years have become lethal to the trees already weakened by drought and bark beetles. Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024 Some are succumbing to bark beetles, which have killed 60,000 acres of forest. Krista Langlois, Outside Online, 10 Mar. 2023 No doubt spruce bark beetle and our urban forests’ health will be a key topic. Jeff Lowenfels, Anchorage Daily News, 14 Sep. 2023 As the drought continued, native bark beetles swooped in and began killing large tracts of California’s conifer forests, though not the sequoias. WIRED, 18 Nov. 2023 California trees are also dying at a record pace due to drought, wildfires, bark beetle infestation and other threats. Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2023 Between 2011 and 2020, wildfires, drought and bark beetle infestations contributed to the loss of nearly a third of all conifer forests in the lower half of the mountain range, according to a recent study published in the journal Ecological Applications. Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2022 The trees have suffered at least a 70% increase in mortality over the last decade due to severe drought and bark beetle infestations. Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2023 The dramatic die-offs were largely attributed to drought, disease and insects such as bark beetles, which prey on weakened trees. Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bark beetle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bark beetle was in 1832

Dictionary Entries Near bark beetle

Cite this Entry

“Bark beetle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bark%20beetle. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bark beetle

noun
: any of a group of beetles that bore under the bark of trees both as larvae and adults

More from Merriam-Webster on bark beetle

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