The Black Forest is known for its great mountain landscape. Visitors relax in the beautiful mountains, discover the small, idyllic mountain lakes or enjoy the hospitality.
The bark beetle in the Black Forest - a natural plague
As everywhere in the Black Forest, the forests along the Baden Wine Route are also infested with bark beetles. The beetle's spread is favored by monocultures and by drought and heat in the summer and mild winters. The economic damage caused by the beetle infestation is enormous. It is estimated at approximately 100 million euros for 2019.
Bark beetles - small animals, big impact
In the Black Forest, there are 27 different species of the small beetle, which belongs to the weevil family. Worldwide, there are estimated to be more than 5.000 species. The most common species in Germany are the European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) and the six-toothed spruce bark beetle (Pityogenes chalcographus). The beetles are approximately 4,5 mm long. Their lifespan is estimated at about one year. Bark beetles are black, sometimes brownish in color. They particularly favor spruce trees, often older specimens that are over 40 years old. In the Black Forest National Park, drones are even used by the Forest Research Institute to search for bark beetle populations and infested spruce trees.
How does the bark beetle spread?
Bark beetle corridors
Holes in the bark
Bark beetle passages under the bark
After the winter from mid to late April, when it gets warmer outside, the beetles begin swarming. They first attack the bark, the outermost layer of the bark of a tree. Hence the name bark beetle is derived. The beetles drill a hole in the bark and create a passage in which the eggs are laid. This is where the larvae hatch. The supply of nutrients to the tree is disturbed or completely cut off as the larvae destroy the tissue required for this. The flow of sap dries up, the tree is no longer properly supplied. This causes the needles to turn red and brown, the tree eventually dies.
The larva first develops into a pupa before finally developing into an adult beetle. The development from pupa to beetle usually only takes five to ten days. The nested beetles attract conspecifics with a special scent, which then also attack the tree. If the tree is initially only attacked by a few beetles, this quickly leads to a massive attack.
The whole process from laying eggs to swarming out the young beetles only takes six to eight weeks. These can then quickly attack new trees. Because this time span is so short, up to three generations of beetles can emerge each year, and they keep infecting new trees. A female has about 100.000 offspring per year. Once the bark beetle is there, it is difficult and time-consuming to prevent it from spreading.
Why is bark beetle infestation critical?
From an economic point of view, the infestation of the tree population by bark beetles is a huge problem. To avoid spreading, trees have to be felled earlier than planned. In addition, too many trees are felled and there is an oversupply of wood for which no buyers can be found.
A bark beetle infestation is basically not a problem for nature if the beetles infest old and diseased trees. The dead wood is still a source of food and protection for many plants and animals, the dead trees create space for new, healthy trees. In monocultures such as pure spruce forests, however, it is critical that the bark beetles not only attack diseased trees, but in principle make use of the entire tree population.
The infestation by bark beetles contributes massively to forest death. It takes many years for the forest to grow back and for the trees to recover. Forests are no longer protected from storms, especially when edge trees are infested and missing. The equilibrium of the forest is severely disturbed.
The danger is not averted in the following year either, since the beetles can overwinter in the bark at any stage of development and start swarming again in spring from a temperature of around 16 degrees. The cycle with oviposition, development from larva to pupa and then to beetle starts all over again.
Control of the bark beetle
The easiest way to combat the disease is to quickly identify, cut and remove the infected trees. This can prevent the beetle from spreading. However, this requires constant monitoring of the forests and is only possible to a limited extent in huge forest areas. But the effort is worth it, because if the forests are unhealthy or missing, then the Baden Wine Route loses part of its character and uniqueness.
If the infestation has already occurred on a large scale, the resources required to cut the trees and transport them away are often lacking. The infestation is not combated in the Black Forest Nature Park, but a protection zone around the infested trees in the park ensures that it spreads to the trees outside the park.
If none of these natural measures are effective, insecticides can be used. These can only be used by proven experts.
Protection strategies
We want to continue enjoying holidays in the Black Forest , strolling through the woods and immersing ourselves in nature. To ensure that the Baden Wine Route continues to impress not only with its cuisine, but also preserves the character of the region with its wooded mountains, several measures are necessary.
Climate change can no longer be denied. Heat, mild winters and persistent periods of drought favor the spread of the bark beetle. Long-term protection can only be offered by turning away from monocultures and the associated return to mixed forests. It is more difficult for the bark beetle to spread in these areas.
