Drought years promote bark beetle outbreaks in Mexican forests of Abies religiosa and Pinus pseudostrobus

•We studied bark beetle outbreaks patterning (elevation and year) and climate in Mexico.•We used datasets of outbreak phytosanitary logging authorizations and TerraClimate.•Outbreaks on Abies religiosa occur on pure and better-preserved stands.•Outbreaks on Pinus pseudostrobus occur on the lower elevational limit (xeric limit)•Logging authorization coincides with driest Palmer Drought Severity Index anomaly.