Orthotomicus longicollis
Local name: avlång barkborre
The avlång barkborre (Orthotomicus longicollis) is a small cylindrical bark beetle measuring 3-4mm in length with a distinctive elongated pronotum and reddish-brown coloration. This species plays a crucial ecological role as both a decomposer of dead coniferous wood and as a food source for woodpeckers and other insectivorous birds in Scandinavian forest ecosystems.
14
Countries
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Andrei, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Andrei
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Coleoptera
Family
Curculionidae
Genus
Orthotomicus
Orthotomicus longicollis belongs to the family Curculionidae, order Coleoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
The avlång barkborre (Orthotomicus longicollis) is a small cylindrical bark beetle measuring 3-4mm in length with a distinctive elongated pronotum and reddish-brown coloration. This species plays a crucial ecological role as both a decomposer of dead coniferous wood and as a food source for woodpeckers and other insectivorous birds in Scandinavian forest ecosystems.
The avlång barkborre faces significant threats from climate change-induced shifts in forest composition and temperature regimes that affect its host tree relationships. Intensive forest management practices, including clear-cutting and monoculture plantations, reduce habitat quality and connectivity. Additionally, the species is vulnerable to competition from invasive bark beetle species and fungal pathogens that can disrupt its reproductive success.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
This bark beetle species inhabits coniferous forests, particularly spruce and pine stands, where it creates breeding galleries in the bark of both healthy and stressed trees. It shows preference for mature forest ecosystems with diverse age structures and is found primarily in boreal and temperate coniferous woodland environments.
Threats
Climate change impacts on host tree distribution
Intensive forest management and habitat fragmentation
Loss of old-growth forest habitats
Competition from invasive bark beetle species
Fungal pathogens affecting breeding galleries
Found in 14 Countries
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Orthotomicus longicollis (Orthotomicus longicollis). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/avlang-barkborre