First European record of the East Asian bark beetle <i>Cryphalus morivorus</i> (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) on white mulberry ( <i>Morus alba</i> ), with evidence of establishment in Slovakia

Abstract Cryphalus morivorus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), a bark beetle species previously known only from East Asia, is reported here for the first time in Europe. The species was found in association with Morus alba and M. alba 'Pendula' at four municipality-level localities in the Danubian Lowland and the Lučenec Basin, western and southern Slovakia. Infested twigs and small branches showed wilting and dieback associated with subcortical galleries, although no cases of whole-tree mortality were observed. Identification was based on morphological traits and supported by molecular analyses of the 28S rDNA and COI genes. In addition to recently collected field material from May 2025, previously collected herbarium specimens were examined, allowing the earliest occurrence of the species in Slovakia to be dated to 2022. The pathway of introduction of C. morivorus into Europe remains uncertain but was most likely linked to the international trade of ornamental Morus plants. The presence of characteristic galleries and adult beetles across multiple sites and years indicates that the species is established and reproducing locally. This discovery highlights the increasing risk of exotic bark beetle introductions associated with ornamental and landscape tree plantings. It underscores the importance of early detection and monitoring of mulberry trees to mitigate potential long-term ecological, socio-cultural, and management-related impacts.