Activity of the European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) continues in Latvian forests. This insect is considered the most aggressive and dangerous pest of spruce stands not only in Latvia but throughout Eurasia; it is capable of infesting not only weakened spruce trees but also completely healthy ones.

According to monitoring data from the Latvian State Forest Research Institute 'Silava', the highest flight intensity of the European spruce bark beetle during May of this year was observed in Sēlija and Vidzeme, particularly in the areas around Cēsis, Madona, Gulbene, and Jēkabpils, where the risk of mass propagation is assessed as high. To date, flight intensity and the associated risk have been low in Kurzeme and the area around Daugavpils, while the rest of Latvia retains a moderate level of risk for bark beetle infestation. It must be emphasised that monitoring is carried out at specific observation points and does not reflect the status of every individual forest property, but rather provides an assessment for a larger area. The State Forest Service encourages forest owners with spruce stands to regularly inspect and monitor their sanitary condition.

State Forest Service senior expert Oskars Zaļkalns reminds owners of the necessity to follow specific forest sanitary measures. Between 1 April and 1 September, forest owners should avoid carrying out thinning and selective sanitary felling in spruce stands that are older than 50 years or have an average tree diameter greater than 16cm, as felling residues (branches, needles, and wood chips) release terpenes, which attract insects and promote their propagation. Exceptions are only permitted in cases where spruce stands are compact, isolated, and located no closer than 100 m from other mature spruce stands. Such stands may be clear-felled in a single operation if they meet the criteria to allow for felling based on a sanitary opinion from the State Forest Service. In other cases, it is advisable to postpone felling until September. Dead trees do not pose a risk to the forest stand, but operations associated with their removal can encourage bark beetles to congregate in the stands where these trees are being extracted. Activities may be permissible if they take place in deciduous stands containing only individual spruce trees, provided that coniferous stands are no closer than 100 m away.

If forest owners have any questions regarding measures to limit the spread of the European spruce bark beetle, the State Forest Service invites them to contact the senior experts of the Forest and Environmental Protection Department:

• Oskars Zaļkalns – phone: 26188968; e-mail: oskars.zalkalns@vmd.gov.lv

• Vasilijs Kolačs – phone: 29441040; e-mail: vasilijs.kolacs@vmd.gov.lv