After the storms Gudrun and Per, about 3 million cubic meters of standing forest were attacked. The cost of the both storms are estimated to have cost the Swedish forestry sector approximately 1.2 billion SEK. The study investigated why some of the spruces had survived the substantial attacks of the spruce bark beetles in Nyteboda forest nature reserve. Stem related variables and the environment the spruces grew in were investigated. Young trees with a high proportion of crown and a low diameter at breast height seem to avoid attacks to a greater extent. The environment they grow in, the microclimate also proved to be of great importance whether they are able to avoid attacks, as there were stems that had beneficial properties but still were attacked.