In three windthrow areas in mountain spruce forests the succession of the insect fauna was investigated. Window traps were operated during the growing seasons from 1991 to 1994. The present contribution reports on the species composition and the dynamics of bark beetle population development. Two yearsafter the storm, beetle densities reached their maximum and declined rapidly thereafter. Species numbers increased during the first two years and subsequently remained on an elevated level. A total of 34 species was found in the windthrow areas. The numbers of individuals as well as the species numbers reached higher levels in uncleared areas than both in cleared areas (timber removed) and in an adjacent intact spruce stand. The diversity index, however, varied more with location than with clearing treatment. During the first few years after the storm, species composition changed drastically: potential forest pests (Pityogenes chalcographus, Ips typographus) were dominant during the first two years. They were then replaced by secondary beetles such as Crypturgiis pusillus and Dryocoetes autographus. After the storm Vivian the outbreak of the European spruce bark beetle (I. typographus) caused high mortality in standing spruce trees. In the windthrow areas spruce bark beetle densities peaked after two years and then collapsed. In the adjacent stands the outbreak peaked in 1993 and continued for several years.