Ips in East Anglia: Be Vigilant
All woodland owners and managers across the country are being asked to be extra vigilant for signs of Ips typographus. The warning comes after the Forestry Commission confirmed eradication measures are being undertaken for Ips in East Anglia.
Above: Ips typographus galleries. Credit: Milan Zubrik Forest Research Institute Slovakia
Ips typographus (also known as the Larger eight-toothed European spruce bark beetle) was first found in the UK during 2018 in Kent. It has since been confirmed and eradicated in East Sussex, West Sussex and Surrey.
Trees are usually very well defended against beetles like Ips typographus. However, where there are lots of dead, stressed or weakened spruce trees, such as after a drought or storm event, then the Ips typographus population can boom.
Forestry Commission spokesperson Andrea Deol said: “We can confirm that Ips typographus has recently been reported to the Forestry Commission in East Anglia.
“We are conducting a swift investigation including rapid eradication measures, alongside wider environment surveillance to determine the scale of the issue and identify additional suitable management actions.
“All landowners, managers and timber processors should remain vigilant for Ips typographus. It is important for landowners to continue to check the health of Spruce trees on their land, especially as temperatures rise and we enter the next flight season.”
For more information on Ips typographus:
- Read this blog by Anna Platoni Advisory Entomologist at Forest Research.
- See the Forest Research tools and resources pages here.
TreeAlert is the online reporting tool for tree pests and diseases, managed by Forest Research with funding from Defra, Forestry Commission, Scottish Forestry and Welsh Government.
