For the forestry sector, the bark beetle is dangerous for three essential reasons. Firstly, it threatens spruce trees growing in forests, which then have to be felled. Secondly, it damages sawn timber by infecting it with blue-stain fungus. Thirdly, this insect is also a quarantine pest, because of which we could lose foreign markets. If bark beetles are detected in timber exported from Latvia to the UK, it means that our exports to this country could be significantly restricted. Although the situation in Latvia is not as bad as in Central Europe, the rapid increase in the spread of the bark beetle is a considerable risk for Latvian forest owners as well. This problem was relatively acute in previous years, when an increase in the bark beetle population was observed in the Gauja National Park and Lubāna – in spruce stands affected by the 2017–2018 floods. It is encouraging that this year's cold spring was not favourable for the rapid reproduction of the pest. However, the situation may change next year if overwintering conditions are favourable for it.