Both native and invasive bark beetles threaten exotic conifers within the spa towns in the Czech part of “The Great Spas of Europe”

Abstract

Exotic coniferous trees in forests adjacent to spa towns and in parks within spa towns are increasingly being attacked by outbreak populations of native bark beetles in western Bohemia (Central Europe). In the 12 localities in western Czech Republic the current study, we detected a total of 19 native bark beetle species infesting more than 10 % of exotic tree species in the genera Abies, Picea, Pinus, and Pseudotsuga in 1 year. Several exotic tree species were identified as new hosts for native European bark beetles. We also identified three non-native bark beetles, including Phloeosinus aubei, a species that transmits the pathogens that cause cypress canker disease.The numbers of infested trees in the localities were not correlated with the distance from surrounding bark beetle outbreak sites in commercial forests, because all forests adjacent to spas and all forests in spa towns (i.e., “urban forests”) are close to commercial forests with infested trees. Infestations were greater in spa towns than in the forests adjacent to spa towns. We therefore assume that trees within spa towns will be further attacked due to the increasing abundance of native bark beetles.