Bug could have decimated forests

A pest intercepted on wood packaging at an Irish port last week has been confirmed by an entomologist as the lethal spruce bark beetle, which has the potential to destroy Ireland’s disease-free forests.

The beetle was discovered by Forest Service officials on a consignment of sawn spruce timber on a cargo vessel which arrived at Killybegs Port in Co Donegal from Saint Petersburg in Russia.

A spokesman for the Department of Agriculture and Food said the interception of the pest showed the controls had worked effectively.