Bark-scratching of storm-felled trees preserves biodiversity at lower economic costs compared to debarking

•We examined mechanical bark treatments in artificial spruce windthrows.•Debarking and bark-scratching decreased densities of Ips typographus.•Debarking reduced species densities of saproxylic beetles, fungi and parasitoid wasps.•Bark-scratching was faster than debarking and preserves most non-target biodiversity.•We urge forest managers to revise current pest management.