a member of the family Scolytidae (Coleoptera), particularly species in the genera Dendroctonus, Ips, and Scolytus whose adults and larvae tunnel in the cambial region (either in the bark only or in the bark and xylem) of living, dying, and recently dead or felled trees —note bark beetles do immense damage to forests all over the world; some species are carriers of disease, e.g., Dutch elm disease; a few species attack roots, twigs, cones, and solid wood This definition last updated 07/16/2008