Ambrosia beetles of the subfamily Scolytinae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) are frequently unintentionally introduced to new parts of the word, and in some regions, their successful invasiveness poses a significant threat to forest ecosystems. In the past decade, seven non native species of ambrosia beetles have been discovered in Slovenia. One of these is Xylosandrus compactus, which was first detected in Slovenia in 2023, during the annual monitoring program for quarantine species, near the Port of Koper (Srmin). The discovery of the black twig borer, as well as other non-native species, confirms the effectiveness of such monitoring efforts and highlights their necessity. As part of this thesis, two multi-funnel traps were installed in the vicinity of Izola, one of which was designed for dry collection and the other for wet collection. Both contained ethanol and α-pinene as attractants. Monitoring was conducted from March 21 to July 20, 2025. We transported weekly catch to Slovenian Forestry Institute, Department of Forest Protection, where all beetles (Coleoptera) were identified. Bark beetles (Scolytinae) were determined to species level. Additionally, multiple visual surveys of the area were carried out as part of the research. Through this thesis, two new locations of X. compactus presence were confirmed, providing new insight into the distribution of this recently detected species. Furthermore, visual inspections and analysis of plant samples confirmed the presence of the species on a host plant (Laurus nobilis), making it the first documented find on a host plant in Slovenia.
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