THE eight-toothed spruce bark beetle has been discovered on Sitka spruce in the UK for the first time.
Forestry officials say Ips typographus was found on a small number of cut and fallen spruce trees in close proximity to infested Norway spruce trees on a site in West Sussex.
A serious threat to spruce trees in Europe, the pest was identified within an already established demarcated area that also included Kent. Landowners are now being urged by Forestry Commission chiefs to "proactively remove spruce in the area and replant with other non-susceptible species".
Professor Nicola Spence, Defra chief plant health officer, said: “We can confirm that new findings of Ips typographus in the south east of England have been reported by the Forestry Commission on a small number of cut and fallen Sitka spruce trees in West Sussex.
“All landowners and land managers should remain vigilant for Ips typographus as temperatures rise, continuing to check the health of spruce trees on their land. Landowners, agents and timber processors should note ongoing restrictions for movement of spruce material and methods of forest operations in the Demarcated Area.”
Forestry officials maintain there is no evidence of spread within the UK and the recent outbreaks are most likely due to natural dispersal of the pest from mainland Europe. However, this theory has been disputed by some, given the distance Ips would have had to travel.
First identified in the UK in 2018, it prefers stressed or dying trees but under the right conditions it can attack healthy trees and has the potential to cause significant damage to Great Britain’s forestry and timber industries.
Dr Anna Brown, Forestry Commission director of Forest Services, said: “Rapid eradication measures are being taken, alongside wider surveillance to determine the scale of the outbreak, and identify further management steps required.”
Landowners are encouraged to proactively remove spruce from the south east of England and replant with other non-susceptible species.
They may also be eligible for funding if their land is in the 'Proactive Spruce Removal area'. Landowners and managers served with a Statutory Plant Health Notice due to an outbreak on their site may be eligible for grants to support felling and restocking activity through the Tree Health Pilot.
This fresh discovery will likely add to the worry felt by many foresters in the UK. Recently, the pest was confirmed in East Anglia for the first time (with the demarcated area extended around 100 miles north), while two beetles were found in Scotland last year.
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