The Northern spruce bark beetle Ips duplicatus is an important pest of Norway spruce in Central and South-Eastern Europe, capable of producing mass attacks and killing the spruce trees in forests installed outside of the natural area, or situated in the natural area up to 1000 m altitude.

The development of this species is strongly dependent on temperature. It is expected that the global warming affects the diapause and the voltinism of this species. The increase of temperatures could increase its distribution to mountain stands inside Spruce’s natural distribution area.

The research proposed in this project is focusing on the realisation of the phenological model for Ips duplicatus (based on the temperature thresholds which condition the start or the stop of the diapause, adult flight etc., and daily photoperiod which conditions the start of the diapause), and global warming impact to voltinism and diapause of this species. The research will be based on methods successfully used in similar studies made for Ips typographus among others.

The results will be the basis of new strategies to achieve the integrated adaptive management of forest ecosystems in the context of global warming and actively monitor the pest development.