The bark beetle
The bark beetle
Since August 2018, spruce trees have been suffering from numerous attacks by the Ips typograph (bark beetle) in our forests, mainly as a result of their weakening as a result of the drought. In 2021, the OWSF reports a sharp decline in attacks linked to typographical ips. The situation varies from region to region, but locally heavy attacks are still possible.
The letterpress beetle is a parasitic beetle of spruce trees in the scolytidae family.. It is Europe's biggest forest pest. This bark beetle lays its eggs under the bark of recently uprooted or broken trees and on weakened or recently felled trees. In favourable breeding conditions (windfall or drought, for example), the insect proliferates and attacks standing, apparently healthy trees.
The insect generally produces two generations a year, although a third generation may occur in very hot summers. The insect overwinters under the bark, if this is still present, or in the litter (only the imagos, not the larvae). Bark beetles do not develop on dry, needleless trees without bark. Removing these individuals is not a priority. Finally, the presence of bark beetles does not mean that the entire stand has to be cleared.
How do I treat my bark beetle spruce trees?
How can we "neutralise" bark beetle-ridden spruce trees - which are currently unmarketable - to preserve the trees that are still healthy? The most effective technique is still debarking, because the spruce is no longer attractive, the operation destroys most of the bark beetle population and the wood keeps longer.
If debarking is not possible, the alternative is to spray the trees that have been barked and felled. In this case, the infected spruce trees are skidded to the storage area and sprayed with an insecticide just before they are piled by a professional who has a phytolicence certificate.
Given the impact of plant protection products on the environment and human health, the RFSB does not recommend this sanitation technique. In the event that this technique is used, you will find in this video all the information you need on the rules of good use to achieve the objective while reducing the impact.
RFSB would like to thank PreventAgri and the Pirothon company for their collaboration on this information video.
History of bark beetles
From 2018 to 2020, spruce suffered attacks from the bark beetle. The damp, cool climate of 2021 put a stop to the epidemic, and we are waiting to see how the problem develops in 2022 to confirm the downward phase of this major health problem.
Here is the background to the RFSB's mobilisation and the measures taken by the Walloon Region to support foresters affected by the spruce disease crisis.
22 May 2024
As part of its health monitoring, the Walloon Forest Health Observatory maintains a system designed to track the flight of Ips typographus (spruce bark beetle). The survey revealed an increase in captures, marking the start of the first flight in 2024.
16 July 2020
Walloon Government Decree on temporary measures to combat the spruce bark beetle outbreak on temporary measures to combat the spruce bark beetle outbreak
1st June 2020
Circular interpreting Article 23 of the AGW of 27 May 2009 on the entry into force and implementation of the Decree of 15 July 2008 on the Forestry Code.
17 April 2020
Owners or managers of spruce stands are authorised to travel to their property as part of the monitoring and management of the bark beetle crisis.
24 March 2022
The mild temperatures of the last few days and the weather conditions forecast could trigger the typographer's first flight of 2022 very soon. It's important for managers to be as prepared as possible.
29 July 2020
Circular interpreting the Walloon Government Decree of 16 July 2020 on temporary measures to combat the outbreak of spruce bark beetles.
7 May 2020
Speech by the Minister to the Walloon Parliament on the various aid measures that will be put in place.
16 April 2020
Scolyte alert! The typographer starts to fly. The windfalls are already under attack.
27 April 2020
RFSB is setting up a new support service.
Support service - Bark beetles 2020
For the 3rdth consecutive year, spruce trees are suffering from attacks by Ips typographer (bark beetle). This crisis is compounded by the paralysis of the timber industry due to the Covid-19 confinement. RFSB is mobilising to support foresters:
RFSB recommends 4 measures to forest owners:
- Locating and trapping bark beetle-affected trees
- Felling and delimbing
- Desensitisation, either by debarking or by phytosanitary treatment*.
- Skidding and roadside storage
*RFSB does not recommend this legally authorised technique in view of the impact of plant protection products on the environment and human health. In the event that this technique is used, the strict conditions of use are repeated in this video.
New service!
RFSB is offering a new support service for owners of spruce stands with bark beetles, to help them understand the issues and the measures to be taken.
What are your options? Either let it go and do nothing. Or, despite the difficulties, try to do something about the bark beetles to reduce the risk of attack on the stands that are still healthy, and embark more quickly on reforestation..
The team and a number of RFSB volunteers will meet with you to discuss solutions and refer you to professionals who can implement actions specific to your situation.
You can use the form below to submit your request, to which we will respond promptly. This form also allows you to give us a mandate authorising us to travel to your woods, despite the containment measures.
Reminder: you have priority for our planting aid to restore stands damaged by health problems.
Support against bark beetles
Stands with bark beetles?
Call on the RFSB team and its volunteers!
This service is free for RFSB members.
Health problems
Any health problems in your stands?
Call on our Correspondent-Observers!
They'll come and carry out a diagnosis!
This service is free for RFSB members.
To find out more:
Documents :
- Typographer alert (OWSF), 16 May 2022
- Spruce bark beetle: how to prepare spruce stands for the next attack (Silva Belgica magazine 01/2020), February 2020
- Bark beetle alert (OWSF), April 2019
- Mapping spruce trees with bark beetles or dying treesFebruary 2019
- Spruce bark beetle crisis and harvesting deadlines - Communiqué to private producers and timber buyers, March 2019
- Fact sheet on the bark beetle and the management of infected wood Prepared by the Walloon Forest Health Observatory (OWSF), October 2018
- Press release from the "Scolytes" Crisis Unit for private forest owners, October 2018
- File on the bark beetle (Silva Belgica magazine 05/2018), September 2018