Updated situation of Pseudips mexicanus in Ireland
In Ireland, Pseudips mexicanus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae - EPPO Alert List) was first found in traps in August 2023 in the municipality of Shannon (Clare county, Mid-West region) (EPPO RS 2020/004).
Intensive trapping and surveys have been carried out in 2024. In addition, selected pine trees of poor vigour were felled and examined. As a result a single adult female beetle has been found in a dead (wind-blown) pine tree in site approximately 50 m from a trap where beetles were previously caught in autumn 2023. Trapping since April 2024 has resulted in beetles being caught in 19 traps within the demarcated area and at a single trap approximately 7 km to the southwest of the demarcated area. The demarcated area had therefore been enlarged within the counties Clare and Limerick, using a 10 km radius outward from the new trap findings.
No breeding population has been detected and no evidence of damage has been observed.
The NPPO underlines that these findings do not necessarily represent a further spread of the beetle, but this wider survey allowed delimitation of the presence of the beetle following the initial findings.
In addition to the delimiting survey, a national network of traps for P. mexicanus has been established outside the demarcated area. No other findings of the beetle have been made in this network.
Sources
NPPO of Ireland (2024-10).
A map of the demarcated area is available at: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/b62ba-monterey-pine-engraver-pseudips-mexicanus-discovered-in-co-clare/