TAXONOMIC CHARACTERS FOR DIFFERENTIATING COHABITATING LARVAE OF DENDROCTONUS-PONDEROSAE AND IPS PINI (COL, SCOLYTIDAE)

Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins and Ips pini (Say) are often found coh abitating in Pinus spp. hosts, especially when D. ponderosae is in the endemic population phase. Although the adult stages are morphological ly distinct, distinguishing between the species is difficult when only the larval stages are present. Using field collected specimens, sever al taxonomic characters of the larvae were identified which may be use d to differentiate the two species. These results have application in studies of endemic D. ponderosae populations and competitive interacti ons between I. pini and D. ponderosae populations.