Incursion of Ips calligraphus in Spain
In Spain, Ips calligraphus (Coleoptera: Scolytinae, EPPO A1 List) was first reported in August 2019 in the port of Valencia but was not considered to have established and no further specimens were found during surveys in 2021 (EPPO RS 2023/227).
The NPPO of Spain recently informed the EPPO Secretariat that I. calligraphus had been found on its territory. In June 2025, 5 specimens were caught in two pheromone traps in the Port of Valencia (Comunitat Valenciana) and 2 specimens were caught in one pheromone trap in a forest area near the port that is used to detect the entry and establishment of pests. All traps were part of the Valencian Early Warning Network. The identity of the pest was confirmed by morphological test. Phytosanitary measures were implemented including increased visual inspections and trapping. Monthly inspections from July to November 2025 did not find any signs of presence and no further specimens were found in the Port of Valencia or the forest area since June. Therefore, the NPPO of Spain considers that I. calligraphus has not established in this area and that these specimens likely entered the Port of Valencia through imported commodities from North America. Visual inspections and trapping in and around the Port of Valencia are ongoing.
The pest status of Ips calligraphus in Spain if officially declared as: Absent, pest no longer present for reasons other than eradication.
Sources
NPPO of Spain (2025-12, 2026-01).