In 2023, branches of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) were placed on 24 different study sites within beech stands in the Czech Republic to study the distribution of the beech bark beetle (Taphrorychus bicolor Her.). After infestation, the branches were placed in emergence traps to capture adults of the offspring generation. In total, 2167 adults of T. bicolor were captured across the 24 study sites. The average capture (mean ± SE) was 90.3 ± 24.4 adults per site. Statistical analyses, including GLMM and GLM, were employed to assess the influence of elevation and stand age on the abundance of T. bicolor. The results indicate that the distribution of T. bicolor is mainly influenced by the elevation and age of the beech stand. The number of captured adults decreased with elevation and increased with stand age. Climatic region, volumes of beech, and volumes of felled beech wood from principal felling and thinning felling had no significant effect on the number of T. bicolor adults captured. We found that, overall, 73.37% of Czech beech stands (at elevations 300–650 m a.s.l.) are possibly threatened (either highly or slightly) by the large occurrence of T. bicolor, because they are present at elevations where T. bicolor is widespread. No outbreaks of T. bicolor have yet been reported in the Czech Republic, but with the increasing amount of beech planted, combined with global climate change, the possibility of outbreaks in the future cannot be excluded.

The large larch beetle, Ips cembrae, is a significant pest causing the death of larch. In 2020, the attack density of I. cembrae on larch trap trees and standing trees was evaluated using sample sections placed along the trunk. As a defensive measure against I. cembrae, trap trees were highly effective in both spring and summer. The attack density increased with increasing trap tree surface area/volume. Galleries were established evenly throughout the entire trunk including the thin upper portion. When the number of trap trees was low and their capacity full, a continual aggregation of adults occurred due to pheromone communication, leading to attacks on healthy standing trees in the immediate vicinity. It was found that I. cembrae attacked standing trees from the trunk base, with a continual colonization of the stem up to 70% of the tree height in a time-differentiated progression of development stages. The attack density of I. cembrae on standing trees was up to 40% lower than on the trap trees.

Modern interventions, especially afforestation with Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris (Pinales: Pinaceae), L.), have accelerated habitat degradation in sandy lowland regions, reducing biodiversity and hindering the continuous succession of beetle populations. We conducted research from 2013 to 2021 in the Moravská Sahara–Bzenec district, South Moravia, following a 2012 wildfire. This study investigated whether wildfire and intensive site preparation—specifically, disc trenching for replanting—could support the long‐term restoration and persistence of psammophilous beetle populations. Beetle assemblages (Coleoptera: Carabidae) were compared across six vegetation stages: (i) uprooted pine stand, afforested; (ii) uprooted pine stand, left to decay; (iii) semi‐decayed mid‐aged stand; (iv) affected mature stand; (v) unaffected mature stand; and (vi) unaffected mid‐aged pine stand. We recorded 25,468 ground‐dwelling beetles from 113 species. The findings suggest that wildfire shapes beetle assemblages by creating diverse habitats that support various beetle species. Habitat changes were associated with fire severity, successional stage and site preparation intensity, resulting in distinct species clusters. These results indicate that wildfires can be a valuable conservation tool for enhancing the diversity of early‐successional beetle assemblages. In open areas subjected to intensive site preparation for reforestation, beetle species gradually declined with no replacement, reflecting the homogeneous habitat structure. To promote species continuity, we recommend implementing low‐intensity repeat fires near mature stands. Consequently, increased forest canopy closure should not be regarded solely as regeneration but as a potential threat to species richness and diversity in these sandy habitats.

Ips cembrae , an important pest of European larch ( Larix decidua ), has caused local outbreaks in the last two decades and is becoming increasingly important as the proportion of European larch in forests increases. In 2021–2023, larch logs and piles of branches were placed into shaded forest and sunlit areas every month to study bark beetle species on logging residues. After adult emergence, the logs and branches were debarked, and the infestation density of bark beetles was analysed. The results indicate that shading, log diameter and top/bottom parts of log had a significant effect on infestation density of I. cembrae on logs. The infestation density of I. cembrae was higher on logs felled between December and June than on logs felled between July and November. Shading of branches was the most significant variable affecting the bark beetle species composition on branches. All four of the bark beetle species recorded were affected by diameter of the branches. Ips cembrae primarily infested sunlit branches while Cryphalus intermedius preferred shaded branches. In contrast, the infestation densities of Pityogenes chalcographus and Pityophthorus pityographus seemed to be affected primarily by moisture content of the branches.

The distribution of wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) on almost all continents brings with it a number of negative impacts, the intensity of which depend on the local population density. One of these impacts is the rooting of the soil surface as part of their foraging behavior, which represents an ecologically valuable disturbance to the forest ecosystem. In this study, conducted in 2022 and 2023, we placed 50 pitfall traps across 10 plots at 10 model sites to compare epigeic arthropod communities in areas affected by wild boar rooting with those unaffected by rooting activity. Our findings demonstrate the presence or absence of rooting is a highly significant factor in shaping arthropod epigeic community assemblies. Rooted plots predominantly hosted species from the taxons Araneae, Carabidae, Elateridae, and Diplopoda, whereas plots without rooting were significantly associated with the taxons Tenebrionidae, Opiliones, Gryllidae, and Geotrupidae. Diptera, and Staphylinidae were not affected by wild boar rooting activity. Throughout the study, a decreasing trend in species diversity was observed. Wild boar rooting notably impacted the composition of epigeic assemblages.

BACKGROUND: Ips cembrae is serious forest pest of European larch (Larix decidua). The negative impacts on nontarget invertebrates of the use of different I. cembrae trapping methods has not yet been evaluated, although mortality of nontarget invertebrates may occur.RESULTS: Between 2016 and 2022, the impact of different I. cembrae trapping methods on nontarget invertebrates was assessed. Four trapping methods (slot traps, insecticide‐treated tripods, logs and trees) baited with the pheromone lure Cembräwit were tested. Based on larval feeding habits, the captured nontarget invertebrates were grouped into four feeding types: predators, phloexylophagous, saproxylophagous and mycetophagous. The results indicate that predators, especially the clerid beetle Thanasimus formicarius, were the most negatively affected group of nontarget invertebrates. A negative effect on a number of IUCN Red List species also was shown, particularly on Corticeus fraxini (Tenebrionidae). The results show that Cembräwit‐baited slot traps capture not only I. cembrae, but also other serious forest pests such as I. sexdentatus and Pityogenes chalcographus. The overall effect of different trapping methods on I. cembrae population densities has not been studied; however, our results indicate that the use of insecticide‐treated methods has a negative effect on I. cembrae predators.CONCLUSION: The negative effect on the predators may be sufficiently large to outweigh any benefits gained from a reduction in I. cembrae numbers resulting from trapping. Therefore, in order to reduce the negative impacts on nontarget invertebrates, properly timed and consistent salvage logging should be used rather than insecticide‐treated trapping methods. © 2025 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.