Debarkers and climate change: a worrisome relationship

Abstract

Bark beetles are small insects that live, feed, and reproduce under the bark of trees. These insects play a renewing role in forest health by eliminating weak and sick trees, leaving only the strongest and healthiest. However, due to increasing temperatures and greater occurrence of droughts, bark beetle outbreaks now occur more frequently than usual, spread more easily, and could kill many trees in a short period of time. In Mexico, bark beetles are considered a problem of national importance as they are the second largest agent of forest disturbance, especially in the temperate forests of central Mexico. In just Michoacán and State of Mexico, outbreaks increased from 38 in 2009 to surpass 1,000 in 2021. This rapid increase in bark beetle outbreaks presents a new challenge in forest management programs, as early actions must be developed to help curb the expansion of these insects and the resulting damage to trees.