bark beetle
- any of numerous small, cylindrical beetles of the family Scolytidae that nest under the bark of hardwood trees, leaving intricate tracings on the wood.
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Origin of bark beetle
First recorded in 1860–65
Also called ambrosia beetle, engraver beetle.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for bark beetle
Historical Examples
Absurd, replied the bark-beetle, just sit still and be polite to the gentleman.
The Adventures of Maya the BeeWaldemar Bonsels
But I ain't believin' any such perambulatin' spirit for a bark-beetle.
The Boy With the U. S. ForestersFrancis Rolt-Wheeler
Then he continued: "But I didn't know there was any bark-beetle here."
The Boy With the U. S. ForestersFrancis Rolt-Wheeler
An' when that dead tree is full of bark-beetle, an' there ain't none in the forest, that sure looks suspicious.
The Boy With the U. S. ForestersFrancis Rolt-Wheeler
He can stretch his tongue out ten times my length, cried the bark-beetle, flourishing his arm.
The Adventures of Maya the BeeWaldemar Bonsels
bark beetle
- any small beetle of the family Scolytidae, which bore tunnels in the bark and wood of trees, causing great damage. They are closely related to the weevils
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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