FURTHER findings of the eight-toothed European spruce bark beetle have been confirmed on trees in England.
Forestry Commission officials have found more Ips typographus on spruce in Kent, Surrey, East Sussex and West Sussex. The existing demarcated area, which covers those counties, will now be extended into parts of Hampshire in a bid to combat the spread of the insect.
The new findings were made following routine plant health surveillance activities carried out by the FC.
READ MORE: Felling restrictions to be brought in over eight-toothed European spruce bark beetle
Nicola Spence, the UK’s chief plant health officer, said: “The eight-toothed spruce bark beetle poses no threat to human health, but can have a serious impact on spruce tree species and the forestry industry.
“We are taking swift and robust action to limit the spread of the outbreaks as part of our well-established biosecurity protocol used for tree pests and diseases. Any sightings should be reported to the Forestry Commission via its TreeAlert online portal.”
A robust management programme is in place to manage the outbreak sites and prevent potential spread of the pest, forestry officials say, in line with the eradication action taken to manage outbreaks of Ips typographus found in 2021.
To combat further potential spread, an extension to the existing demarcated area is being introduced from Wednesday to cover parts of Hampshire. Within the demarcated area, the movement of susceptible tree material such as spruce wood, bark and branches is restricted.
The south-east of England in particular is vulnerable to the arrival of the eight-toothed spruce bark beetle because it can naturally be blown over from Europe. An extensive network of pheromone traps has been positioned across the south-east to monitor for potential incursions of the pest from the continent and to identify suspect sites.
Jane Hull, Forestry Commission area director for the South East and London, said: “The enhanced plant health enforcement actions announced today will prevent this potentially damaging pest from becoming established, protect the forestry sector, and ensure our vital spruce are retained within the landscape.”
Today’s announcement follows the introduction of controls in December last year requiring woodland managers to provide written notification to the FC if they intended to fell susceptible spruce material, or kill any trees of the genus Picea A.
This is a breaking news story. More follows ...
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