Dendroctonus valens

Dendroctonus valens, also known as the red turpentine beetle, is a species of bark beetle characterized by a dark-reddish brown hue. It is native to forests across North and Central America. In its adult form, these beetles range from six to ten millimeters in length. A notable characteristic about them is their use of acoustic signals and chemical cues when engaging in what is a very complex mating process.

While harmless in its native range, D. valens is a very destructive pest in China, where it was introduced and subsequently spread through wood shipments. It has killed more than six million pine trees across the country and biological control programs are currently being used to combat its deleterious effects on Chinese ecology.