It can be quite difficult to believe that something the size of a grain of rice has had such a devastating effect on our forests. The combination of an abundance of mature pine trees and increasingly mild winter weather has allowed the pine beetle population to explode to epidemic levels. The infested area has doubled in size in 2003, covering all forest regions in British Columbia with the largest area in the South Cariboo region north to Fort St. James. The beetles attack lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine, and on the rare occasion, the white pine. The provincial government is looking for new and alternative uses for the dead trees, as they are not salvageable for traditional use. Moreover, there is the serious risk of fire due to the fact that the dead trees can act as the perfect fuel for large forest fires. See the growing problem

 

The effects of pine beetle infestion

GREEN STAGE:

Beetles have infested the tree but this fact cannot be detected or mapped from the air. The tree appears to be normal and healthy.

RED STAGE:

The beetle have left the tree after successfully mining the layer between the bark and the wood. This occurs in the year following the initial attack. The pine needles turn red and this is an indication that the tree is dying. Together the combined impact of the beetle infestation and the fungus the beetles produce and leave in the tree has now depleted the tree of its nutrients and water.

GREY STAGE:

By now the beetles are gone and the tree has been dead for some time. All the needles wil have fallen away, leaving the tree looking very barren. This typically occurs the year following the red stage.

 

The lifecycle of the beetle

The mountain pine beetle only lives for one year. The female beetles bore through the bark, emiting pheromones to attract males for mating. They then lay their eggs. After undergoing the larval and pupal phases, adult beetles fly in search of new pine for food and reproduction purposes. This can begin as early as June in very warm climates. This continues through through July and August when trees are most vulnerable to infestation due to water deficiency during the hot summer months. 

Evidence of infestation

Healthy pine trees can often withstand light attacks by exuding resin to expel beetles. Large, whitish pitch tubes may indicate the tree has repelled a beetle attack. Smaller, reddish-brown pitch tubes and lots of dust from boring the bark mean the beetle attack has been successful and the tree will soon die. Adult beetles also carry a fungus that they deposit into the sapwood. This fungus causes dehydration while inhibiting a tree's natural defences and stains the wood blue. However, these blue-streaked logs are just as strong as other pine logs. Research has proven that beetle-killed wood stained blue by the fungus remains structurally sound and safe for building.

Natural control agents: the weather

Freezing temperatures will stop a beetle epidemic. Sudden cold snaps of -25 C in the early fall or late spring or sustained frigid weather of -40 C in the winter can kill populations of beetles and end serious outbreaks. However in the last few years we have had mild winters and hot dry summers allowing the beetle to multiply and expand into new regions.

Taking action against the beetle

The government of British Columbia has committed itself to an aggressive course of action:

  • Committing more than $100 million over the last three years
  • Creating a task force in June 2001 to address the epidemic and guide the Minister in developing a strategic plan
  • Launching the Mountain Pine Beetle Action Plan in November 2001 to implement recommendations of the task force, industry and other affected parties.
  • Appointing a provincial bark beetle coordinator to oversee action plan, provide technical expertise, coordinate cross-agency liaison and report directly to the Minister of Forests.
  • In northern B.C. increasing the allowable annual cuts to reduce spread and to salvage growing amounts of damaged timber.
  • Logging 22 million cubic metres of beetle wood last year to reduce spread
  • Removing red tape to be more efficient and effective in managing the problem.

What can we do to fight back?

Aerial and ground detection, pheromone baiting, falling and burning, and a variety of logging techniques are all being used by the government to help manage the infestation. Tight controls on the hauling and milling of infested logs are in place to help prevent the spread to new areas. On an ongoing basis the government reviews its policies with community leaders, forest managers, forest health authorities, industry experts, First Nations, environmental representatives and other stakeholders. Unfortunately the Mountain Pine Beetle is no longer a forestry problem as more and more infestations are being found on private property.

There are a number of steps one can take to help alleviate the potential for a beetle infestation.

  • Early detection is key. Look for holes and dust created by the beetles drilling into the bark, pitch tubes, increased woodpecker activity and discoloured needles. Peel away bark to expose larvae galleries and beetles. Make sure to check for beetles when hauling pine firewood.
  • If infested, contact Tech Mist Spray Solutions to treat the trees with sprays or Pheromone repellants
  • Trees can also be felled and burned on site during the winter. Obtain necessary permits. This is some 30 times more expensive than spraying the tree and still having it around
  • Contact Tech Mist to spray trees in March - July. The beetles die when they emerge and ingest the treated bark.