Both Scottish Forestry and Ireland’s Department of Agriculture are working collaboratively together on precautionary forestry measures following the finding of three Ips cembrae beetles (commonly known as the large larch bark beetle) in a trap in Passage West port in Cork.  

At the time roundwood logs from the west of Scotland were moving through the port.  It is thought that the beetles could have hitchhiked on this timber although this has not yet been confirmed.  

Until further investigations have been carried out, a precautionary pause is now in place preventing all conifer timber with bark on being transported to Ireland from Scotland’s west coast Pest Free Area.   

James Nott, Head of Tree Health at Scottish Forestry, said:  “Scottish Forestry’s tree health team are in regular contact with their counterparts in Ireland over this finding. We have both agreed that a precautionary pause in the movement of timber is the right course of action whilst investigations progress. We need to carry out further tracing and surveillance then carefully consider next steps and take a judgement based on the evidence.”     

Whilst further investigations continue, Scottish Forestry will not be issuing any phytosanitary certificates although the Irish authorities have agreed to allow timber already in transit on boats to continue their passage.  As all Scottish log imports are inspected at Irish ports, any such consignments currently in transit will be subject to an inspection at the port prior to being cleared.   Any boats that have not left Scotland will not be allowed to dock in Ireland.  

Ips cembrae is a large bark beetle which bores into larch trees which in turn can have a damaging effect on the quality and volumes of timber.  In very rare cases it can be found on other species.  It can also land on other timber without establishing a breeding colony. In effect using the timber to hitch a lift. 

In 2022, a number of Ips cembrae beetles were found in traps in Scotland’s Pest Free Area.  No breeding populations were found in follow up surveys.  Following the trap findings and as a precaution, in agreement with the forestry sector, no larch timber is moved to the island of Ireland which has pest free status for Ips cembrae.  

Scottish Forestry will continue to work with tree health officials in Ireland to assess future actions and will keep the industry informed of developments.  

Scotland’s Pest Free Area is up the West Coast of Scotland from the Mull of Kintyre, Mull, and through to Fort William and over to the Isle of Skye.