The Consell de Ibiza has asked the Balearic Government to declare as a plague the infestation of the pine borer, a beetle of the Tomicus species, which is devastating the island’s forests. The insular institution has warned that the insect, favored by the persistent drought, has gone from attacking dead trees to damage living pines, depositing its eggs in the bark and causing the death of the trees by feeding on them in their larval stage. This increase in Tomicus activity is having a significant impact on Ibiza’s ecosystems. “The situation is alarming,” said the Consell, noting that although this species is native and usually harmless, current conditions have made it an active threat to the island’s forests. The declaration of pest would allow to urgently deploy a control plan to curb its spread. Among the measures proposed by the Consell is the elimination of pine trees already dead or severely affected, an action that is considered essential to stop the advance of the pest. In addition, the use of pheromone traps that would attract the male specimens of the Tomicus, preventing their reproduction and reducing the risk of expansion is foreseen. This declaration seeks to mobilize resources and efforts to protect the pine forests of Ibiza and prevent the damage from spreading, thus ensuring the preservation of an essential component of the landscape and biodiversity of the island.
