New findings of alien Scolytinae in Spain
A recent paper by researchers reported on new findings of non-European Scolytinae in Spain:
- Amasa parviseta: the species was first recorded in Spain in 2009 (EPPO RS 2024/053). A single specimen was caught in a trap in September 2024 in Motril (Granada province, Andalucía).
- Xyleborus bispinatus: the species was already caught in traps in the provinces of Alicante, Murcia, and Valencia (RS 2023/175). The authors report its presence in Motril (Granada province) with three specimens collected in an ornamental Parkinsonia aculeata. This represents the first host plant record for this insect in the Iberian Peninsula, and a new host plant for this species.
- The findings of Euwallacea fornicatus (EPPO A2 List) reported in this article correspond to the situation as described in RS 2025/010.
In the same paper, researchers reported on suspected specimens of Euwallacea similis (Coleoptera: Scolytinae, EU A1 Quarantine pest as ‘non-European Scolytinae’) in Spain. E. similis is a highly polyphagous ambrosia bark beetle native to South-East Asia and reported across Oceania and Africa. It was previously introduced, and established, in Texas, USA in 2002 (EPPO RS 2006/208), and an incursion was recently reported and eradicated in Italy (RS 2025/058, RS 2025/086)
Suspected specimens of Euwallacea similis were collected in traps by university researchers from August 2019 to November 2023 in three localities in Southeastern Spain (Andalucía and Murcia regions) and one locality in Western Mallorca (Islas Baleares). The suspected specimens were first detected by using light traps in Aguadulce (Almería province, Andalucía): 2 specimens in August 2019 and 5 specimens in August-September 2020. In October 2021, a single specimen was captured in a light trap in Ribera de la Algaida (Almería province), a nearby locality located 5 km from the first site. In 2023 two specimens were caught in a baited trap baited in Aguadulce. On the island of Mallorca, a single specimen was captured in October 2021 in a trapping campaign targeting another bark beetle, Xylosandrus compactus. No further captures have been recorded in the island of Mallorca. In October 2022, seven specimens were caught in a trap dedicated to the early detection of exotic species, which was located adjacent to a biomass processing plant in Caravaca (Murcia province, Murcia region). This trap has remained active since 2021 and has not captured any further specimens of this species.
These findings of Euwallacea similis have not been confirmed by the NPPO of Spain.
Sources
Gallega D, De Dios Má, Riba-Flinch JM, García-Reina AN, Galián J, Mas H, Lencina JL, Zafra M, Henares I, Rodríguez F, Alcázar MD, Knížek M, Gómez DF (2025) Euwallacea similis (Ferrari), a new ambrosia beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) for the Iberian Peninsula, and new records on Euwallacea fornicatus (Eichhoff), Xyleborus bispinatus Eichhoff and Amasa parviseta Knížek & Smith. Zootaxa 5673(1), 63-78.