Alien insects in Slovenia and their potential impact on forests

Na nova območja človek z globalizacijo vnaša številne tujerodne vrste, ki naseljujejo praktično vse ekosisteme, tudi gozdove. Vpliv tujerodnih vrst na novem območju je težko z gotovostjo napovedati, lahko pa na vpliv sklepamo na podlagi njihovega obnašanja v primerljivih ekoloških razmerah, na primer v sosednjih državah. Tujerodne vrste, ki na novem območju povzročijo negativne spremembe in škodo, so invazivne tujerodne vrste. Čeprav jih je razmeroma majhen delež vseh tujerodnih vrst, pa je njihov vpliv na okolje lahko zelo velik. Veliko invazivnih tujerodnih vrst spada med žuželke. Zelo pomembne so zlasti fitofagne vrste, ki povzročajo škodo v kmetijstvu, gozdarstvu in drugih sorodnih panogah. Slovenija pri tem ni izvzeta. Tujerodne žuželke pridejo k nam na različne načine, velikokrat po naravni poti iz sosednjih držav, kjer so že ustaljene. Pojav mnogih novih vrst žuželk ostane neopažen in njihovo prisotnost zaznamo šele, ko (če) začnejo v okolju povzročati vidne spremembe. Takrat je po navadi kakršnokoli ukrepanje bolj ali manj neučinkovito. Članek na primerih izbranih tujerodnih vrst žuželk osvetljuje stanje tujerodnih vrst žuželk v Sloveniji in njihov vpliv na gozdove.Due to globalization, numerous alien species are brought to new territoriesthey colonize almost all ecosystems, including forests. It is difficult to predict the impact of alien species on the new territory, but we can conclude about the impact on the basis of their behavior in comparable ecological conditions, for example in neighboring countries. Alien species, causing negative changes and damage on the new territory, are invasive alien species. Although they account for a relatively small share of all alien species, they can considerably affect the environment. Many invasive alien species belong to the insects. Very important are phytophagous species, which cause damage in agriculture, forestry, and other similar branches. Thereby, Slovenia is not excluded. Alien insects come to Slovenia in various ways, often naturally from neighboring countries, where they are already settled. Occurrence of many new insect species stays unnoticed, and we observe their presence only when (if) they begin causing visible changes in the environment. At this point, any action is usually more or less inefficient. This article highlights the state of alien insect species in Slovenia and their impact on forests on the examples of the selected alien insect species