Incursions of non-European Scolytinae in Slovenia
The NPPO of Slovenia recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first findings of four non-European Scolytinae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) on its territory. ‘Non-European Scolytinae’ are EU Quarantine pests.
The beetles were caught in traps as part of a scientific project carried out by the Forestry Institute of Slovenia. In December 2025, 2 adults of Cyrtogenius luteus and 3 adults of Cyclorhipidion bodoanum were reported in one trap near the border with Italy in Goriška region (West Slovenia). In February 2026, a total of 3 adult Cyclorhipidion distinguendum were caught in three traps and 2 adult Dryoxylon onoharaense were caught across two traps in Goriška region. The identity of the pests was confirmed by morphological and molecular testing. In 2026 the Multiannual Survey Programme conducted by the NPPO will include surveys for non-European Scolytinae.
Cyrtogenius luteus is native to South-East Asia and has established in Italy and parts of South America (Stazione et al., 2026).
Cyclorhipidion bodoanum was introduced to Europe in the 1960s and is established in many countries in Western Europe (Kirkendall and Faccoli, 2010).
Cyclorhipidion distinguendum is native to South-East Asia, and has been recorded in France, Switzerland (EPPO RS 2023/045) and the USA (Atkinson, 2026).
Dryoxylon onoharaense is native to East-Asia and has been recorded in the USA and Italy (RS 2023/045).
The status of Cyrtogenius luteus in Slovenia is officially declared as: Transient, actionable, under surveillance.
The status of Cyclorhipidion bodoanum in Slovenia is officially declared as: Transient, actionable, under surveillance.
The status of Cyclorhipidion distinguendum in Slovenia is officially declared as: Transient, actionable, under surveillance.
The status of Dryoxylon onoharaense in Slovenia is officially declared as: Transient, actionable, under surveillance.
Sources
Atkinson TH (2026) Bark and Ambrosia Beetles of the Americas. Cyclorhipidion distinguendum. Accessed at: https://www.barkbeetles.info/amer_chklist_target_species.php?lookUp=7552
Kirkendall LR, Faccoli M (2010) Bark beetles and pinhole borers (Curculionidae, Scolytinae, Platypodinae) alien to Europe. ZooKeys 17(56), 227. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.56.529
NPPO of Slovenia (2026-01, 2026-02).
Stazione L, Soliani C, Cognato A, Gomez DF, Avtzis D, Eskiviski E, Martinez Crosa G, Lin W, Li Y, Corley J, Lantschner V (2026) Reconstructing the invasion history of the bark beetles Orthotomicus erosus and Cyrtogenius luteus (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae) in South America. Biological Invasions 28(2), 49. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-026-03779-6