First report of Xylosandrus compactus in Montenegro
During a study in the National Parks Durmitor and Biogradska Gora and surroundings of Boka Kotorska bay in November 2023, a single female specimen of Xylosandrus compactus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae – formerly EPPO Alert List) was found near the village of Kameno in Herceg Novi municipality in the Coastal region of Montenegro. The specimen was found in a dormant state in a soil sample from a deciduous forest dominated by oak (Quercus spp.) and hornbeam (Carpinus spp.) trees. No damage to trees or galleries were reported. Further surveys are needed to determine if there is an established population in the area.
It is not known how the specimen was introduced, however Fiala et al. (2025) suggest introduction could have occurred via the nearby port of Herceg Novi as the nearest recorded X. compactus population in Croatia is situated beyond the expected capacity of natural spread.
The situation of Xylosandrus compactus in Montenegro can be described as: Present, not widely distributed (only in one location).
Sources
Fiala T, Knížek M, Holuša J (2025) First report: Xylosandrus compactus (Eichhoff, 1876), new invasive ambrosia beetle in Montenegro. Annals of Forest Science. 82(1), 16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13595-025-01290-x