''Cnestus'' is a genus of
ambrosia beetles
Ambrosia beetles are beetles of the weevil subfamilies Scolytinae and Platypodinae (Coleoptera, Curculionidae), which live in nutritional symbiosis with ambrosia fungi. The beetles excavate tunnels in dead, stressed, and healthy trees in which ...
.
One prominent species is ''
Cnestus mutilatus
''Cnestus mutilatus'', commonly known as the camphor shot borer, camphor shoot borer, or sweetgum ambrosia beetle, is a species of ambrosia beetle in the subfamily Scolytinae of the weevil family Curculionidae. It is native to Asia, but has been ...
'', the camphor shot borer. It is an invasive species that originated in Asia, and has spread over much of the Eastern United States.
[Barkbeetles.info]
''Cnestus mutilatus''
/ref>[Bugguide]
''Cnestus mutilatus''
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Description
Beetles of this genus are commonly around 3–4 mm in body length.
Etymology
The original author did not give any indication on the etymology of the genus name.
Taxonomy
Around twenty species have been described for this genus.
References
Scolytinae
Curculionidae genera
{{Scolytinae-stub