Radar observation and aerial capture of mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopk. (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in flight above the forest canopy

2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (8) ◽  
pp. 2313-2327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter L. Jackson ◽  
Dennis Straussfogel ◽  
B. Staffan Lindgren ◽  
Selina Mitchell ◽  
Brendan Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
Forest Canopy ◽  
Dendroctonus Ponderosae ◽  
Weather Radar ◽  
Mountain Pine Beetles ◽  
Emergence Period ◽  
Transport Distance ◽  
Mountain Pine ◽  
Pine Beetle ◽  
Pine Beetles

An outbreak of the mountain pine beetle ( Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopk.) in central British Columbia, Canada, has reached an unprecedented size and intensity and has been spreading. The 2005 emergence and subsequent flight of mountain pine beetle was studied using direct observation of emergence, weather radar imagery, and aerial capture. To verify that the daytime, clear-air radar returns seen during this period were indeed generated by airborne mountain pine beetles, aerial sampling in the area covered by the radar was performed using a drogue capture net towed by a single-engine light aircraft. Results verify that airborne mountain pine beetles are being detected by the weather radar and that, during the emergence period, significant numbers of mountain pine beetles can be found at altitudes up to more than 800 m above the forest canopy. An estimate of transport distance indicates that mountain pine beetles in flight above the forest canopy may move 30–110 km·day–1. An estimate of the instantaneous density of mountain pine beetles in flight above the canopy on flight days in 2005 indicate a mean (maximum) density of 4950 (18 600) beetles·ha–1.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DENSITY OF EMERGED DENDROCTONUS PONDEROSAE (COLEOPTERA: SCOLYTIDAE) AND DENSITY OF EXIT HOLES IN LODGEPOLE PINE

1985 ◽  
Vol 117 (3) ◽  
pp. 267-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Safranyik ◽  
D.A. Linton
Keyword(s):  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Latex Paint ◽  
Mountain Pine Beetles ◽  
Emergence Period ◽  
South Central ◽  
Mountain Pine ◽  
Pine Beetle ◽  
Pine Beetles ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractThe relationship between the density of insect holes in the bark (X1) and the density of emerged mountain pine beetles (Y) was investigated in naturally infested lodgepole pine in south-central British Columbia. The density of exit and ventilation holes (Ho) that were present in the bark prior to emergence by mountain pine beetle averaged 10% of all holes present following the emergence period. There was a weak but significant inverse relationship between Ho and both phloem thickness and density of emerged mountain pine beetles. Painting the bark with light-color latex paint did not affect survival or the temporal pattern of emergence by mountain pine beetle but ensured identification and greatly enhanced counting of fresh exit holes. Of the several regression models investigated, the relation between Y and both X1 and X2 (= X1 – Ho) was best fitted by a log-log linear model. A method is suggested for setting limits on the size of exit holes cut by mountain pine beetle in order to exclude from X2 much of the variation caused by exit holes cut by associated insects. A simple mathematical model was developed of the relationship between mean density of exit holes and the density of emerged mountain pine beetles.

PRIMARY ATTRACTION OF MOUNTAIN PINE BEETLE, DENDROCTONUS PONDEROSAE HOPK. (COLEOPTERA: SCOLYTIDAE), TO BOLTS OF LODGEPOLE PINE

1991 ◽  
Vol 123 (2) ◽  
pp. 299-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry A. Moeck ◽  
Clarence S. Simmons
Keyword(s):  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Dendroctonus Ponderosae ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Mountain Pine Beetles ◽  
Mountain Pine ◽  
Pine Beetle ◽  
Primary Attraction ◽  
Pine Beetles ◽  
Empty Control

AbstractThree field tests were conducted in which fresh lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Douglas var. latifolia Engl.) material, namely bolts with and without bark, bark only, and freshly tapped resin, were placed in beetle-excluding “greenhouse” cages; empty cages served as controls. Two “window” flight traps per cage, at right angles to each other, caught mountain pine beetles (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) arriving at the cages. Significantly more mountain pine beetles were trapped at cages baited with bolts and wood only than at empty control cages. Primary attraction in the mountain pine beetle is thus established, in the absence of pheromones and normal visual cues (tree stem silhouette). More beetles were trapped at cages baited with bark only and with resin than at empty control cages, but differences were not significant at p = 0.05. The sex ratio of trapped beetles (4.83 females: 1 male) was more than twice as high as the reported sex ratios of free-flying and emerging beetles.

scholarly journals Within-Stand Distribution of Tree Mortality Caused by Mountain Pine Beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 112 ◽  
Author(s):  
José F. Negrón
Keyword(s):  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Dendroctonus Ponderosae ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Mountain Pine Beetles ◽  
Mountain Pine ◽  
Pine Beetle ◽  
Pine Beetles ◽  
Stand Conditions

The mountain pine beetle (MPB) (Dendroctonus ponderosae) is a bark beetle that attacks and kills ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), among other pine species throughout the western conifer forests of the United States and Canada, particularly in dense stands comprising large trees. There is information on the stand conditions that the insect prefers. However, there is a paucity of information on how small-scale variation in stand conditions influences the distribution of tree mortality within a stand. I examined the small-scale distribution of ponderosa pine basal area pre- and post a mountain pine beetle infestation, and used geostatistical modeling to relate the spatial distribution of the host to subsequent MPB-caused tree mortality. Results indicated increased mortality in the denser parts of the stand. Previous land management has changed historically open low-elevation ponderosa pine stands with aggregated tree distribution into dense stands that are susceptible to mountain pine beetles and intense fires. Current restoration efforts are aimed at reducing tree density and leaving clumps of trees, which are more similar to historical conditions. The residual clumps, however, may be susceptible to mountain pine beetle populations. Land managers will want to be cognizant of how mountain pine beetles will respond to restoration treatments, so as to prevent and mitigate tree mortality that could negate restoration efforts.

A comparison of mycangial and phoretic fungi of individual mountain pine beetles

2003 ◽  
Vol 33 (7) ◽  
pp. 1331-1334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana L Six
Keyword(s):  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
External Surface ◽  
Ophiostomatoid Fungi ◽  
Cross Contamination ◽  
Mountain Pine Beetles ◽  
Mountain Pine ◽  
Pine Beetle ◽  
Pine Beetles ◽  
Ophiostoma Montium ◽  
Ophiostomatoid Fungus

Two ophiostomatoid fungi, Ophiostoma clavigerum (Robinson-Jeffrey & Davidson) Harrington and Ophiostoma montium (Rumbold) von Arx, are known to be associated with the mycangia of the mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins. However, virtually nothing is known regarding the phoretic fungi carried on the external surface of the exoskeleton of this beetle. In this study, I compared the phoretic fungi of individual D. ponderosae with the fungi carried in their mycangia. As many beetles carried ophiostomatoid fungi on the exoskeleton as in the mycangia; however, the species of ophiostomatoid fungus carried phoretically on an individual beetle was not always the same as was carried in its mycangia. Ophiostoma montium was isolated more often from exoskeletal surfaces than from mycangia, while the reverse was true for O. clavigerum. It appears that O. clavigerum is highly adapted for mycangial dissemination, while O. montium is adapted to phoretic as well as mycangial dissemination. Ophiostoma ips (Rumbold) Nannf. was phoretic on two beetles, indicating that cross-contamination with fungi from cohabiting Ips spp. may sometimes occur. Several non-ophiostomatoid fungi were isolated from exoskeletal surfaces, but none consistently so. All non-ophiostomatoid fungi isolated were common saprophytes often found in beetle-killed trees. Yeasts were also common and were isolated more often from the exoskeleton than from mycangia.

Efficacy of verbenone in reducing lodgepole pine infestation by mountain pine beetles in Idaho

1989 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gene D. Amman ◽  
Ralph W. Thier ◽  
Mark D. McGregor ◽  
Richard F. Schmitz
Keyword(s):  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
National Forest ◽  
Significant Treatment ◽  
Mountain Pine Beetles ◽  
Mountain Pine ◽  
Fold Reduction ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Pine Beetle ◽  
Pine Beetles

Verbenone, a bark beetle antiaggregative pheromone, was deployed in lodgepole pine (Pinuscontorta Dougl. var. latifolia Engelm.) stands in the Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho, U.S.A., to test its efficacy in reducing tree losses to mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonusponderosae Hopkins). Treatments tested were verbenone, mountain pine beetle tree bait, verbenone plus mountain pine beetle tree bait, and a control. Each treatment was applied individually to 1-ha blocks and replicated four times. Treatment effects were measured by percentage of infested (i.e., mass-attacked) lodgepole pine. ANOVA showed a significant treatment effect (P < 0.005). Blocks treated with mountain pine beetle tree baits had significantly (P < 0.002) higher average percentages of infested trees (24.4%), whereas no significant difference occurred in percentages of infested trees among the other three treatments. Average percentages of infested trees were 0.9% for verbenone, 7.4% for verbenone plus mountain pine beetle tree bait, and 3.3% for the control. A 2.3-fold reduction in infested trees occurred when verbenone was applied to blocks treated with mountain pine beetle tree baits.

scholarly journals Mountain pine beetles and emerging issues in the management of woodland caribou in Westcentral British Columbia

Rangifer ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah Cichowski ◽  
Patrick Williston
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Habitat Use ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
Forest Harvesting ◽  
Woodland Caribou ◽  
Mountain Pine Beetles ◽  
Mountain Pine ◽  
Pine Beetle ◽  
Pine Beetles

The Tweedsmuir—Entiako caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) herd summers in mountainous terrain in the North Tweedsmuir Park area and winters mainly in low elevation forests in the Entiako area of Westcentral British Columbia. During winter, caribou select mature lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) forests on poor sites and forage primarily by cratering through snow to obtain terrestrial lichens. These forests are subject to frequent large-scale natural disturbance by fire and forest insects. Fire suppression has been effective in reducing large-scale fires in the Entiako area for the last 40—50 years, resulting in a landscape consisting primarily of older lodgepole pine forests, which are susceptible to mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) attack. In 1994, mountain pine beetles were detected in northern Tweedsmuir Park and adjacent managed forests. To date, mountain pine beetles have attacked several hundred thousand hectares of caribou summer and winter range in the vicinity of Tweedsmuir Park, and Entiako Park and Protected Area. Because an attack of this scale is unprecedented on woodland caribou ranges, there is no information available on the effects of mountain pine beetles on caribou movements, habitat use or terrestrial forage lichen abundance. Implications of the mountain pine beetle epidemic to the Tweedsmuir—Entiako woodland caribou population include effects on terrestrial lichen abundance, effects on caribou movement (reduced snow interception, blowdown), and increased forest harvesting outside protected areas for mountain pine beetle salvage. In 2001 we initiated a study to investigate the effects of mountain pine beetles and forest harvesting on terrestrial caribou forage lichens. Preliminary results suggest that the abundance of Cladina spp. has decreased with a corresponding increase in kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) and other herbaceous plants. Additional studies are required to determine caribou movement and habitat use responses to the mountain pine beetle epidemic.

Effects of Acetone Extractives in Gray-Stage Lodgepole Pine Killed by Mountain Pine Beetles

TAPPI Journal ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 47-54
Author(s):  
LAWRENCE H. ALLEN ◽  
ALAIN GAGNÉ
Keyword(s):  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
Pulp Mill ◽  
Defense System ◽  
Mountain Pine Beetles ◽  
Paper Mills ◽  
Natural Defense ◽  
Mountain Pine ◽  
Pine Beetle ◽  
Pine Trees ◽  
Pine Beetles

The mountain pine beetle epidemic in British Columbia is leaving behind vast stands of dead pine trees to be harvested. Several years after death, when the needles have fallen off, the trees are referred to as gray-stage. The trees’ natural defense system when attacked is to pitch out the beetles by producing large amounts of canal resin to flood the beetles’ bore holes; hence, changes in wood resin (extractives) will accompany beetle attack. Increased extractives concentration has been shown in the final bleached pulp in a kraft mill pulping a large proportion of gray-stage pine wood killed by the mountain pine beetle. Similar to the wood extractives content in gray-stage pine chips, pulp extractives in gray-stage mill pulps are variable and can occasionally be high (e.g., > 0.05%), likely because of the composition of the extractives in the incoming chips. Although this usually does not cause pitch problems in the pulp mill and its customer paper mills, kraft mills that sell gray-stage pulp to extractives-sensitive customers should check extractives content before shipment to make sure it is not unacceptably high.

TEMPORAL AND VERTICAL DISTRIBUTION OF BARK BEETLES (COLEOPTERA: SCOLYTIDAE) CAPTURED IN BARRIER TRAPS AT BAITED AND UNBAITED LODGEPOLE PINES THE YEAR FOLLOWING ATTACK BY THE MOUNTAIN PINE BEETLE

2000 ◽  
Vol 132 (6) ◽  
pp. 799-810 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Safranyik ◽  
D.A. Linton ◽  
T.L. Shore
Keyword(s):  
Bark Beetles ◽  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Height Distribution ◽  
Trypodendron Lineatum ◽  
Mountain Pine Beetles ◽  
Mountain Pine ◽  
Pine Beetle ◽  
Pine Beetles

AbstractBark beetles were trapped for two summers in a mature stand of lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelmann (Pinaceae), infested by mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins, near Princeton, British Columbia. Columns of flight-barrier traps were suspended next to uninfested live trees and from dead brood trees containing new adult beetles. The brood trees had been treated in the previous year with mountain pine beetle pheromone bait alone or in combination with Ips pini Say (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) pheromone bait and subsequently killed by mountain pine beetles. A total of 3376 individuals from 30 species of Scolytidae were captured in the traps. Most of the species for which lodgepole pine is a nonhost or occasional host were captured in low numbers (one or two specimens). The most abundant species (> 30 individuals) were D. ponderosae, I. pini, Hylurgops porosus LeConte, Pityogenes knechteli Swaine, and Trypodendron lineatum Olivier. The treatments affected captures of mountain pine beetles and I. pini but only in the year when trees were either unbaited or baited simultaneously for mountain pine beetle and I. pini. There were significant differences among the five most abundant species in the mean heights and mean Julian dates of capture. In addition to host condition requirements, these differences reflected partitioning of the food and habitat resource and competitive interactions among species. There was no interaction between treatment and trap height, indicating that treatment did not affect the height distribution of flying beetles.

Effect of natal and colonised host species on female host acceptance and male joining behaviour of the mountain pine beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) using pine and spruce

2014 ◽  
Vol 147 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fraser R. McKee ◽  
Dezene P.W. Huber ◽  
B. Staffan Lindgren ◽  
Robert S. Hodgkinson ◽  
Brian H. Aukema
Keyword(s):  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Host Material ◽  
Host Acceptance ◽  
Mountain Pine Beetles ◽  
Generalist Herbivore ◽  
Mountain Pine ◽  
Pine Beetle ◽  
Female Host ◽  
Pine Beetles

AbstractThe mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), outbreak in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada, currently extends over 18.3 million ha of pine forest. The principal host of the insect is lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta var. latifolia Englemann (Pineaceae) although it is a generalist herbivore on pines. Mountain pine beetles do not typically colonise spruce. However, during the current outbreak, several instances of mountain pine beetle attack on interior hybrid spruce, Picea glauca (Moench) Voss×Picea engelmannii Parry ex. Engelmann (Pinaceae) have been noted in areas where severe lodgepole pine mortality has occurred. Occasionally, beetle reproduction within spruce has been successful. Reproductive behaviours of mountain pine beetles reared from pine and spruce, such as female host acceptance and male joining behaviour, were studied on bolts of pine and spruce in laboratory bioassays. Females more readily accepted spruce host material relative to pine. Females that developed in spruce had higher rates of host acceptance of both pine and spruce host material than females that had developed in pine. We interpret these latter results with caution, however, as inference is partially restricted by sourcing viable insects from one spruce in this study. Implications of these findings to the concepts of host adaptation and population dynamics of this eruptive herbivore are discussed.

INFLUENCE OF LOW TEMPERATURES ON ATTACK, OVIPOSITION, AND LARVAL DEVELOPMENT OF MOUNTAIN PINE BEETLE, DENDROCTONUS PONDEROSAE (COLEOPTERA: SCOLYTIDAE)

1974 ◽  
Vol 106 (9) ◽  
pp. 979-984 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. F. McCambridge
Keyword(s):  
Larval Development ◽  
High Mortality ◽  
Low Temperatures ◽  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
Larval Growth ◽  
Mountain Pine Beetles ◽  
Mountain Pine ◽  
Pine Beetle ◽  
Pine Beetles ◽  
Very High

AbstractMountain pine beetles attacked logs, mated, and constructed egg galleries slowly at 4.4 °C under laboratory conditions. No eggs were deposited in 6 weeks. Attack and oviposition increased above this temperature.Larvae of different initial sizes grew at the same rate throughout each test temperature from 4.4 °C to 12.8 °C. Rate of growth increased with increase in temperature. Larval growth at 2.2 °C is difficult to prove because of very high mortality among smallest individuals.

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