Trees hit by second highest bark beetle infestation
The bark beetle sits between the bark and the wood in the tree and lays eggs there. The larvae that hatch from the eggs then eat the best layer of the tree.
Keystone
The level of spruce trees in Switzerland damaged by the bark beetle last year reached its second highest level ever recorded, after the hot summer of 2003.
This content was published on
1 minute
Keystone-SDA/jc
In 2019, bark beetle damage affected 1.4 million cubic metres of spruce, of which an estimated quarter of a million is still standing, according to a survey by the Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape ResearchExternal link (WSL). This compares with 829,000 cubic metres in 2018.
It is the first time since 2005 that the level of infested wood has reached over a million cubic metres.
The reason for this is probably that a third generation of beetles could develop at lower altitudes under the warm, dry conditions in autumn 2018, says the WSL. Millions of larvae hibernated in the bark of the spruces, weakened the trees and had a good start in spring 2019. The summer of 2019, the third hottest since the start of measurements, did the rest, with food and habitat in abundance for the bark beetle.
The WSL recommends that forest services and forest owners remove infested wood “before the bark beetle flies out again in spring” to limit the spread of the beetle, which prefers relatively freshly dead trees.
Spruce is the most important timber tree in Switzerland, and spruce forests often have a protective function in the mountains.
More
More
Tree death observed after summer of 2018
This content was published on
After the very hot and dry summer of 2018, Swiss researchers studied the consequences of the extreme weather on forests and the water cycle.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Legal action filed against Swiss purchase of Israeli drones
This content was published on
Legal action aims to put an end to the delivery of the six Elbit reconnaissance drones already plagued by delays and setbacks.
Higher direct payments fail to curb scrub encroachment on alpine pastures
This content was published on
The scrub encroachment on Swiss alpine pastures leads to the loss of grassland and damages the typical landscape. It is also responsible for the decline in biodiversity. Despite higher direct payments, the bushes continue to spread.
Head of Swiss financial regulator’s Banks division quits
This content was published on
Thomas Hirschi, head of the Banks division of the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA will leave at the end of August.
Swiss population satisfied with life according to survey
This content was published on
In a survey, the population of German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland expressed general satisfaction with their lives. Respondents were less happy with politics and their personal finances, according to the online comparison service Moneyland.
WHO ‘extremely concerned’ about growing vaccination scepticism
This content was published on
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), vaccination scepticism and a collapse in funding for vaccination campaigns pose a major threat to the health of the world's population.
High-net-worth individuals prioritise well-being over material possessions
This content was published on
The priorities of wealthy private individuals have shifted against the backdrop of ongoing geopolitical tensions and trade disputes. While spending on luxury goods is declining, demand for travel and experiences is unabated.
Swiss researchers sequence genome of 1918 Spanish flu virus
This content was published on
Researchers from the Universities of Basel and Zurich (UZH) have sequenced the genome of the Spanish flu virus, thanks to a sample taken from an 18-year-old Swiss boy who died in the city on the Limmat in 1918, when the pandemic spread around the world.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
2019: fifth hottest year in Switzerland
This content was published on
Switzerland has registered the fifth hottest year since records began in 1864, continuing a trend towards warmer weather which started after 2010.
This content was published on
As hot and dry 2018 comes to an end, the foliage seems more brilliant than ever. But how well equipped are Switzerland’s trees to survive droughts?
Scientists find native trees can withstand heatwaves
This content was published on
Researchers from the University of Basel have found that native forest trees cope with high temperatures better than expected.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.