Mechanical control and management of Coraebus in cork oak forests

The wood-boring beetle Coraebus florentinus causes serious damage to cork oak forests, affecting the health of the trees and reducing the quality and quantity of cork. It attacks the upper branches, causing them to wither and making them susceptible to fungal infections. Control measures require manual removal and the burning of affected parts, as chemical and thermal treatments are not effective. The problem is exacerbated by factors such as drought, fires, overgrazing and climate change.