Pest categorisation of Ips duplicatus

Area of Science:

• Plant Health
• Entomology
• Pest Risk Analysis

Background:

• Ips duplicatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) is a bark beetle native to Europe.
• It primarily attacks spruce (Picea spp.) but also pine (Pinus spp.) and larch (Larix spp.).
• The pest is present in 15 EU Member States and is locally spreading.

Purpose of the Study:

• To perform a pest categorisation of Ips duplicatus for the European Union (EU).
• To assess its status as a potential protected zone quarantine pest.
• To evaluate its potential as a regulated non-quarantine pest.

Main Methods:

• Pest categorisation based on existing data and EU regulations.
• Assessment of distribution, host range, and pathways.
• Evaluation against criteria for quarantine and regulated non-quarantine pests.

Main Results:

• Ips duplicatus is a well-defined species with one to three generations per year.
• Pathways include wood, wood products, bark, and wood packaging material; flight is also a dispersal method.
• The pest can establish in most EU regions, including protected zones, and meets criteria for a protected zone quarantine pest.

Conclusions:

• Ips duplicatus poses a significant risk to EU forests, particularly spruce.
• It meets all criteria for a potential protected zone quarantine pest.
• It does not meet criteria for a regulated non-quarantine pest as plants for planting are not a pathway.