Recently, the spread of the pine bark bug (Aradus cinnamomeus Panz.) has been increasing. For a long time, this species was considered harmless, and its presence in plantations was ignored. The weakening of young pines caused by this insect was usually attributed to droughts, soil conditions, and other factors.

The pine bark bug is widespread in many European and CIS countries, wherever Scots pine grows. In Ukraine, it is particularly harmful in the steppe and forest-steppe zones.

Both nymphs and adult bugs feed on the sap of the inner bark, cambium, and surface layers of the wood. Their feeding releases toxic substances that negatively impact pine growth. The affected wood tissue forms wound parenchyma, disrupting water flow in the tree. This abnormal water circulation leads to the drying and death of pine tops, reducing their productivity.

Infestation centers form gradually. The pest appears in pine plantations when the trees develop scaly bark, around 5-6 years of age. The population peaks in stands aged 15-18 years and begins to decline as the trees reach 20-25 years, when the lower trunks develop thick, plate-like bark, depriving the bug of habitat.

By late summer, early signs of infestation appear: the needles in the upper crown lose their shine, turn yellow, and fall off, while the current year's needles remain unchanged. The bark cracks and exudes resin. The next year, new growth is significantly reduced, and severe infestations cause dieback of the tops and lateral shoots.

This year, specialists from Kharkivlisozakhyst detected the development of the pine bark bug in the pine forests of the Velikoanadol Forest Enterprise in Donetsk, as well as in Balakliia and Zmiiv forest enterprises in Kharkiv region. The infestation is classified as emerging and requires increased monitoring.

For prevention, it is recommended to establish dense, mixed plantations with protective strips of deciduous trees. In heavily infested areas, effective measures include autumn or early spring trunk treatments up to 30 cm in height and litter treatment within a 20-40 cm radius using systemic insecticides of the "Rogor" (BI-58) group. Additionally, satisfactory results have been observed using the fungal-based contact-intestinal insecticide "Boverin" combined with a small dose of an insecticide.