presentation Curitiba Jactel Hervé Branco Manuela Orazio Christophe Nunes Pedro Roques Alain Urban trees facilitate the establishment of alien forest insects We investigate whether urban trees are main facilitators of establishment of alien forest insects. Based on scientific literature and a pan European database on alien invasive species we analysed where introduced forest insects were first detected in European countries. In total 508 first country-specific records were retrieved. We collected site location data, tree cover density and urban landscape suitable habitats (green areas with trees) in buffers (of 500 m radius) around detection points. Large majority of first records were found in urban or peri-urban areas (within 10km from city limits), varying from 81% for bark beetles and wood borers to 92 % for sap feeders and seed or fruit feeders. Only 7% of the cases were found in forests far from cities. Some reports were in rural areas and nurseries. Site types of first detection in cities were highly variable including, public parks, street trees, zoos and botanical gardens. More than 72% of the cases occurred in sites with less than 20% of tree cover proportion in term of surface. More than 50% of the cases in urban areas had less than 10% proportion of suitable habitat. We conclude that urban forest areas and urban trees are hotspots for the establishment of forest pests and that should be intensely surveyed. 1/10/2019 IUFRO world congress - D7h: Improving tree health in urban forests for human well-being https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/events/691/program-app/submission/89639