IMG_8004.JPG

Archive photo © Nöstler

Beetle-infested wood in Bavaria doubled in 2017

Article by Martin Heidelbauer, translated by Susanne Höfler | 10.04.2018 - 08:41

Extreme weather conditions were dominating in Bavaria during the Forest Protection Year 2017. The cold snap in spring delayed the flight of spruce bark-beetles and the development of oak pest insects. Hot temperatures in early spring however stoked up the development of large pests again. Storm front "Kolle" in August caused massive damaged wood (windthrow) volumes in the regions of Freyung-Grafenau, Regen, and Passau: 2.3 million sm³ on 40,000 ha.


"The outbreak of spruce bark-beetle and six-dentated bark-beetle continued in 2017. In total, the beetle-induced damaged spruce volume increased to 3.55 million sm³ in 2017 and with this almost doubled in comparison to 2016", LWF experts report. Furthermore, the gypsy moth population showed a sharp rise, as well.


"This year, our main focus should be control of spruce bark-beetle and gypsy moth. As for spruce trees, the further damage development due to diplodia-induced twig dieback and infestation by metallic wood-boring beetles must be watched closely", forest protection exports point out.