Update of the situation of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus in France
The pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (EPPO A2 List) was first reported in France in November 2025 in the municipality of Seignosse (Landes department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region) (EPPO RS 2025/263) and in the neighbouring municipality of Angresse.in March 2026 (RS 2026/067). Official measures are being applied to monitor the pest and eradicate the outbreak.
On 16th July 2026, the French National Reference Laboratory confirmed the detection of B. xylophilus in a wood sample collected during official surveys in an urban area in the municipality of Lescar (Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region). This site is located 60 km east of the demarcated area in the Landes departement. The sample was collected on a symptomatic Pinus nigra subsp. Laricio tree. In accordance with the EU regulation 2012/535/EU, a demarcated area was established, including an infested zone of 500 m and a buffer zone of 20 km both centred on the infested tree. The infested tree and a neighbouring pine tree were felled on 21th July 2026. Reinforced surveillance and the implementation of measures are currently being put in place by the regional phytosanitary service.
In July 2026, B. xylophilus was detected in a specimen of Monochamus sp. collected in a trap of the official survey programme located in a forest in the Centre-Val-de-Loire region (Loiret department). Reinforced surveillance is implemented in the vicinity of the trap. This includes setting additional traps, carrying out visual inspections and taking samples from dying trees, as well as taking samples from stacks of logs. This is the first finding of B. xylophilus in the region Centre Val de Loire. This finding is considered to be an interception, as B. xylophilus was not found in a tree.
The nematode was also detected in two instances in specimens of Monochamus sp. in the buffer zone of the outbreak in Landes department in July 2026.
The pest status of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus in France is officially declared as: Present, only in some parts of the Member State concerned, under eradication.
Sources
NPPO of France (2026-07).
Commission Implementing Decision 2012/535/EU of 26 September 2012 on emergency measures to prevent the spread within the Union of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et Buhrer) Nickle et al. (the pine wood nematode).http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2012/535/2018-04-23