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Woodland managers, land owners, the forest industry and tree nurseries are being urged to remain vigilant after two new breeding populations of the larger eight-toothed European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) were identified in two woodlands in Kent.

The UK Chief Plant Health Officer confirmed the findings on 25 June and 1 July following routine Forestry Commission plant health surveillance activities.

Movement restrictions are in place to minimise the risk of onward spread of the beetle and the Forestry Commission, Forest Research and the Animal and Plant Health Agency will conduct further surveillance in the local areas.

Following a finding of the beetle in woodland in Kent in 2018, a demarcated area, enforced by the Plant Health (Ips typographus) (England) Order 2019, remains in place covering parts of Kent and Sussex. Within this area, additional movement restrictions apply on conifer material capable of spreading the pest.

Nicola Spence, the UK Chief Plant Health Officer, said:

Two outbreaks of the eight-toothed spruce bark beetle in areas of woodland in Kent have been confirmed. This beetle poses no threat to human health, but can have a serious impact on spruce trees 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, and legislation is in place that restricts the movement of spruce trees in the area.

I encourage anyone who suspects a sighting of the bark beetle to report these to the Forestry Commission through the Tree Alert portal.

Enhanced plant health surveillance within the area this year has intercepted a number of bark beetles through the wider environment trapping network, most likely due to natural dispersal of the pest from the continent. As a result, the Forestry Commission and its partners are increasing their surveillance activity in the area during the next few weeks.

The beetle does not affect human health but can be a serious and destructive pest of the spruce tree species across Europe, although it generally prefers weakened or damaged trees.

Further information on tree pests and diseases, and how to identify them, is available here.