Plan for sharing a map of D. micans in Scotland to aid reporting. Drafted, Katy Dainton, March 2026.
Aim: to encourage Dm reporting from across Scotland
- SF to create a Dm 10km presence / absence map for Scotland
- Squares will be colour-coded based on first finding to show progression of beetle across Scotland • Update annually in April
- Publish on SF website – link to / from FR webpage/s - Great spruce bark beetle (Dendroctonus micans) - Forest Research and Management of great spruce bark beetle - Forest Research Accompanying text:
- The great spruce bark beetle (Dendroctonus micans) is an invasive pest in the UK that feeds on, and can kill, spruce trees.
- It was first detected in southern Scotland in 2003, having gradually expanded northwards from its establishment in England and Wales during the 1970s and 1980s.
- 2015 is the earliest year shown on the map as the year Forestry Commission Scotland began compiling the annual dataset from field survey reports.
- Forest Research operates a biological control programme in which the specialist predatory beetle Rhizophagus grandis is reared in the laboratory and released at sites infested with D. micans.
- The aim of this programme is to reduce damage where D. micans is already present and to slow its spread into areas that remain free of the pest.
- Although the programme has significantly delayed the northward expansion of D. micans, the beetle continues to spread, leaving a large area of spruce still at risk.
- Any suspected sightings of D. micans in Scotland should be reported through Tree Alert, after which Scottish Forestry will carry out a site survey.
- Forest Research will then review the site information and determine whether it qualifies for inclusion in the Rhizophagus release programme.
- To support the programme, please visit [add link to Confor funding page – need to check with Richard].
