engleski

When a native species behaves like invasive – Bark beetle Orthotomicus erosus in the Mediterranean pine forest in Croatia

It has already been documented that climate change has negatively influenced forest health and enabled the establishment of non-native forest pests in Europe, especially wood-boring beetles coming from tropical and subtropical areas. But what if a native bark beetle species becomes invasive as a consequence of climate change? With the recent and ongoing outbreak of the bark beetle Orthotomicus erosus we would like to show a case of a native European forest pest that has strong potential to become invasive in Europe due to climate change. Several other native forest pests have already invaded large parts of Europe (e.g., Thaumetopoea processionea, Thaumetopoea pityocampa), while other native pests are waiting for the trigger (e.g., Abraxas pantharia, Lymantria dispar). It is predicted that Mediterranean forests will be more vulnerable to bark beetle attacks than temperate and boreal forests. Currently, Mediterranean forests are under severe threat from climate change and it is predicted by FAO that they will suffer from its impacts by 2050. Climate change could indirectly and negatively influence forest ecosystems through range expansion and changing of seasonal phenology of insect pests, and may result in faster development and higher feeding rates of phytophagous insects. Recent unusual heavy attacks by Orthotomicus erosus in Croatia seem to be associated with increased temperature and frequency and intensity of drought. Various early warning systems for invasive insect pests are continuously being developed and used, so an important question arises accordingly: should we also invest more into developing an early warning system for native pests that could behave like invasive?

climate change ; early warning system ; expansion

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