Guidance

Larger eight-toothed European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus)

Information about the larger eight-toothed European spruce bark beetle, including how to report sightings.

Latest news: guidance on restocking your woodlands

Over the next 10 years (2024 to 2034), Forestry Commission are encouraging landowners to remove susceptible spruce (stressed, windblown) from the demarcated area within the South East and replant with other species. Support is available through Tree Health Pilot, which provides funding for landowners who are eligible to facilitate this objective. See the new Guide to restocking your woodlands (Ips typographus), following the removal of spruce trees within the Ips typographus Demarcated Area (DMA).

Action required: remove storm damaged trees

All landowners, managers and timber processors should remain vigilant for Ips typographus. It is important to continue taking the necessary action to rapidly remove storm damaged trees in their area.

With storm damage previously reported across England following storms Isha and Jocelyn in January 2024, spruce trees that have fallen or snapped significantly increases the chances of Ips typographus occurring in spring/summer if another flight occurs from the continent. We recommend that spruce continue to be walked, with fallen or snapped trees identified and destroyed where possible.

Ips typographus feeds on live but significantly weakened trees, with snapped stems down to 8cm diameter being a key target. These trees will have lower resin pressure as they can’t draw water up from the roots, which weakens their ability to repel Ips attacks. Trees that have been pushed over but are leaning or hung up with roots still largely intact, are not a significant risk, as they can still draw water. Older, dead trees are not a risk for establishment.

Chipping or burning are suitable methods of destruction, but if this is not possible, the wood can be sawn, dragged into a pile, and covered with a weighed down tarpaulin with the edges tucked in and weighed down. This will speed up the rotting process, rendering material unsuitable in time.

Any woodland owner, manager or timber processor in the IPS Demarcated Areas (PDF, 275 KB, 1 page), requires authorisation to remove and transport damaged trees for processing. Please see details below on how to request a movement authorisation inspection, or email Ipstypographus.authorisation@forestrycommission.gov.uk for further information.

Photograph of an eight-toothed spruce bark beetle on some timber

Eight-toothed European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus)

Overview

The larger eight-toothed European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) is considered a serious pest on spruce in Europe and has recently been found in the wider environment in England as part of routine plant health surveillance activity.

The beetle is mainly a secondary pest, preferring stressed or weakened trees. However, under the right environmental conditions, beetle numbers can increase enough to result in attacks on healthy trees.

If left uncontrolled, the beetle, in association with pathogenic fungi (particularly the blue stain fungus Endoconidiophora polonica), has the potential to cause significant damage to Britain’s spruce-based forestry and timber industries.

There is no evidence that Ips typographus is spreading in England - the latest establishments are likely to have come directly from the continent and are not related to the original 2018 finding.

Symptoms

Adult beetles are dormant and hibernate over winter under the bark of trees, logs and leaf litter. They then re-emerge in spring, when the temperature rises above 20°C.

The beetle prefers stressed or weakened trees e.g. windblown, damaged and recently felled spruce trees, where, under the right environmental conditions, beetle numbers can increase. Inspection of trees in this category should be a priority.

Also look for standing individual and groups of dead trees. This arises when the beetles ‘mass attack’ trees, overcoming the trees’ usual defences by a combination of large numbers and blue stain fungus carried by adult beetles. Under the right environmental conditions, this phase can lead to extensive tree deaths.

Adult females lay eggs along a linear gallery system from which larval galleries radiate, becoming wider as the larvae grow. The pattern shows in the bark and in the surface of the wood, and is unique to Ips typographus. This symptom should be looked for in any dead trees, whether standing or fallen.

The larger eight-toothed spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) can often be confused with the great spruce bark beetle (Dendroctonus micans). Read the Symptoms guide Ips typographus (PDF, 844 KB, 3 pages) to help with identification.

Reporting sightings

Please remain vigilant for signs of Ips typographus. If you think you have spotted signs of this beetle anywhere in Great Britain then please tell us using our Tree Alert form. You can also submit a tree alert form if your spruce woodland is exhibiting signs of decline or stress, and we may arrange for a follow up inspection.

Report suspected sightings in Northern Ireland using Treecheck, the all-Ireland tree pest reporting tool.

Felling and movement restrictions

To protect the country against this pest, under powers conferred by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) Regulations 2019, the Forestry Commission has introduced a Notice to demarcate an area around the confirmed outbreak sites restricting the movement and methods of forest operations.

A revised Notice (PDF, 261 KB, 4 pages) came into force on the 20 July 2022 taking over from the Notice (PDF, 265 KB, 4 pages) of the 22 December 2021.

The demarcated area has been extended to cover parts of Hampshire, whilst continuing to cover Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Surrey, City and County of the City of London, Greater London, East Sussex, West Sussex, Kent and Essex within the boundaries shown in the IPS Demarcated Areas (PDF, 275 KB, 1 page) and within the Notice (PDF, 261 KB, 4 pages), which also contains a description of the boundary.

The Notice introduced the following conditions:

(i) Restrictions on the felling of susceptible material without prior notification. Landowners must provide notice of their intention to fell relevant material at least 14 days in advance of any felling in the demarcated areas. Felling may only commence once written authorisation is provided the Forestry Commission.

(ii) Restrictions on the killing of trees (either by ring-barking, chemical injection or application, mechanical means, biological control or arboricultural intervention) of the genus Picea A. Dietre over three meters in height, without prior notification. All operations must be agreed in writing by the Forestry Commission.

(iii) Prohibition on susceptible material being left in situ, unless authorised in writing by a plant health inspector.

(iv) Prohibition on the movement of spruce (Picea) material with bark (for example, wood with bark, isolated bark, live trees over 3 metres) that has originated within the demarcated area. Provision is made to enable plant health inspectors to authorise movements and processing of spruce material with bark from the demarcated area where this can be achieved without risking the spread of Ips typographus. Authorisations can be requested with the applications forms Application to receive and process Spruce V1 (PDF, 176 KB, 1 page) and Authorisation to process Spruce V1 (PDF, 198 KB, 4 pages).

Processing (or utilisation as biomass) of spruce material which has originated in the demarcated area may only be undertaken at premises authorised by the Forestry Commission to receive this material.

Watch this video guidance on the movement restrictions of spruce trees

See a quick and easy infographic guide on the movement restrictions of spruce trees and spruce material within the Demarcated Area.

For authorisation to commence felling, or to dispatch timber from a harvesting site, within the demarcated area please contact ipstypographus.authorisation@forestrycommission.gov.uk. For authorisation to process spruce material that has originated from the demarcated area please use the links to application forms above or contact the email address.

You can apply for an authorisation to fell, transport or process trees within the Ips typographus demarcated area: apply for Ips typographus authorisation.

Non-spruce conifer timber that is bark-free is not subject to the same movement restrictions, so it can be moved and processed without need for inspection or authorisation.

Plant passports must not be used when moving spruce conifer material with bark that originates in the area demarcated for Ips typographus. All other non-spruce conifer species with bark originating in the area demarcated for Ips typographus must be moved with a plant passport

For further information Plant Passporting see Register as a professional operator to trade in wood, issue plant passports and apply ISPM15 marking.

Export guidelines

Guidance on exporting wood and wood products to the EU (and rest of the world) can be found on: Export wood, wood products and bark from Great Britain.

No phytosanitary export certificate is required for exporting to countries in the EU that don’t have a pest free areas status for Ips typographus.

Any movement of spruce from within the Demarcated Area to a point of export must still to be authorised by the Forestry Commission, and any point of despatch would also require authorisation by the Forestry Commission as a place to receive and process material.

For authorisations, contact ipstypographus.authorisation@forestrycommission.gov.uk

Restocking guidelines

Guidance is available on restocking woodlands following the removal of spruce trees within the Ips typographus demarcated area. This includes what is permissible under both legal requirements and in grant funded situations when spruce trees are felled under Statutory Plant Health Notice (SPHN) and in proactively felled high-risk areas.

The guidance also includes a breakdown of requirements across different sites including Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS), designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and other protected landscapes (e.g. national parks). Read Ips typographus: restocking guidance.

Tree Health Pilot scheme

Landowners and managers in the IPS Demarcated Areas (PDF, 275 KB, 1 page) may qualify for support to fell and restock woodlands under the Tree Health Pilot scheme.

You can also read the Tree Health Pilot case studies for the proactive management of spruce within the Ips typographus demarcated area, supported by the Tree Health Pilot.

Contingency plan

The larger eight-toothed spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) – contingency plan is under review. Visit the plant health portal contingency plans for more information.

Further information

You can find more-detailed information about this pest on the Forest Research website.

You can also sign up the Forestry Commission eAlert providing the latest information on tree pests and disease and grants/funding support. Sign up now.

Latest resources

Catch up on maps, guides, and resources for Ips typographus:

Read our latest press release Forestry Commission introduces further controls to tackle bark beetle tree pest.

Published 1 February 2018
Last updated 6 February 2024 + show all updates
  1. Replaced the 'Outbreak sites summary map' with the most up to date map.

  2. Added an updated version of the Ips typographus outbreak map.

  3. Added information and links to the new Guide to restocking your woodlands (Ips typographus) webpage. Removed guidance around Christmas trees.

  4. Information added on spruce Christmas trees including moving spruce Christmas trees grown within the demarcated area and outside of the demarcated area.

  5. New outbreak summary map added.

  6. Link to new case study added.

  7. Update to the 10km grid summary map.

  8. Addition of an Outbreak sites summary map.

  9. Update to the attachement: Ips typographus guide for landowners and managers.

  10. Added information: impact on Spruce Christmas Trees

  11. New section added: 'Export Guidelines'

  12. Updated: revised Notice which comes into force on the 20 July 2022 taking over from the Notice of the 22 December 2021; also updated - the IPS demarcated area map.

  13. Update to guidance for what to do during warmer weather.

  14. List of authorised processors added to page

  15. Advice added for dealing with storm damage

  16. Ips typographus guide for landowners and managers added to the page

  17. Page updated to reflect that there is no evidence that Ips typographus is spreading in England

  18. Updated guidance on processing (or utilisation as biomass) of spruce material which has originated in the demarcated area

  19. New Notice issued which comes into effect on 22 December 2021.

  20. Notice and Demarcated Area updated.

  21. Updated information for Christmas tree sellers.

  22. Information about the Tree Health Pilot added.

  23. Documents updated: "application to receive and process spruce" and "authorisation to process spruce".

  24. Updated order for the 20 July 2021.

  25. The Ips typographus Q&A has been updated.

  26. Details of how to report suspected sightings of the larger eight-toothed European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) in Northern Ireland have been added to this page.

  27. Attached new application and authorisation forms

  28. A revised Notice of the Order has been added to this page.

  29. Page updates and addition of an identification guide.

  30. Additional information including field symptoms guide.

  31. First published.