Baseline data for the first year of a two-year study to assess
the current status of ponderosa pine stands in southeastern
Montana relative to coal-fired electric power development are
presented. Sixteen permanent plots in pine stands were established
in eastern Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Several characteristics
believed to be...
A pilot project to evaluate trichlorfon and acephate for suppressing western spruce budworm populations was conducted on the Helena National Forest, Montana. Both insecticides were applied at 1 pound active ingredient per acre. Application was made with a Bell 205A helicopter using eight Beecomist Model 350 spray heads. Treatments and...
A multistage sampling survey to measure annual and cumulative mortality of lodgepole
pine by mountain pine beetle was conducted
on the Beaverhead and Gallatin National
Forests, 1978-79. The survey area, 270,000
acres, was stratified into three intensity classes
from aerial sketchmapping. This was followed
by large scale (1:6,000) aerial photography,...
The pine butterfly, Neophasia menapia (Felder and Felder), currently is epidemic on approximately 40,000 acres of State, private, and National Forest land in the Bitter Root Valley. Butterfly populations were reported as becoming epidemic in 1969 and have continually increased to the present level (Bousfield and Dewey 1972).
Because this...
1. Defoliation by cankerworms in 1979 was significantly less in 1978 treated shelterbelts than in untreated shelterbelts. 2. Most shelterbelts treated in 1978 retained enough foliage by late June 1979 so that adjacent crops were protected from wind. 3. Aerially applied Bt at a rate of 1/2 lb./acre provided shelterbelt...
This report contains a brief history of selected mountain pine beetle infestations and the potential for infestations in high hazard stands on the Tally Lake Ranger District. Management alternatives to lessen the severity, or reduce the possibility, of infestations are discussed.
Green ash windbreaks in North Dakota were surveyed in 1972 and 1976 to determine the incidence of attacks by the carpenterworm, ash borer, and other stem-infesting wood borers. Windbreaks were stratified by age and geographic region. In 1976, about 3.1 percent of the green ash trees in North Dakota had...
A 3-year evaluation of Douglas-fir cones in Montana and Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, showed the western spruce budworm, Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman, and midges were the most common and injurious insects found each year. Injury was so severe at some plots that no sound seeds could be found.
The mountain pine beetle infestation on Bureau of Land Management lands in Centennial Valley has increased from about 500 acres in 1977 to more than 7,000 in 1979. Average number of trees per acre killed has more than quadrupled, increasing from 9.8 in 1977 to 47.8 in 1979. Predictions for...
An evaluation was made in 21 seed production areas and 1 seed orchard in Region 1 to identify the primary insect pests and to assess amount of injury caused. Cones from Douglas-fir, grand fir, western larch, lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine, and western white pine were collected periodically and examined. The...
An active infestation of ash borer, Podosesia syringae (Harris) was detected in green ash, Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh, surrounding the Bowman-Haley Reservoir in 1973. A survey in 1974 showed that 40.4 percent of 690 trees examined contained active ash borer attacks. Forty-three out of 140 windbreaks were sampled and each one...
Emerged beetles were first collected July 17 and peak emergence occurred between August 10 and 26, 1975. Density of attacks averaged four per 0.5 ft. 2 (0.05 m2). Parent to brood ratio was 1:4.6. Thirteen associate insects, representing six families of Coleoptera and one of Diptera, were recovered. Associates included...
A survey to determine distribution and intensity of cankers and associated damage in North Dakota windbreak plantings of Russian-olive and Siberian elm was conducted in 1972. Four hundred and thirty-five (76 percent) of 574 Russian-olive examined had cankers, and 552 (72 percent) of 769 Siberian elm examined had cankers. Cankers...
"Holes" with dead, dying, and downed trees in the forest canopy could be reliably identified on 9- by 9-inch Kodak Ektachrome Infrared Aero film 2443 as root disease centers. Film scales larger than 1:4000 were best for detection of these "holes."
Most commonly occurring causal organisms in root diseased trees...
The last outbreak of the Douglas-fir tussock moth, Hemerocampa pseudotsugata McD., in the Northern Region subsided in 1965. Tussock moth populations were not detected again until 1970 when ornamental spruce were defoliated in Spokane, Washington, and Poison and Missoula, Montana.
Dipel (R) was applied by helicopter to three blocks of Douglas fir and Engelmann spruce infested with Choristoneura occidentalis Free., in southwestern Montana. Dosage was 1 pound (7.2 Bill) in 2 gallons of water/acre (453 g in 7.5 t/0.4 ha). A commercial surfactant, Bio-film (R) was added at the rate...
A study was made to determine the distribution of parasites of the larch casebearer, Coleophora laricelia, within crowns of western larch, Larix occidentalis. The most common parasites recovered in order of their abundance, were: Agathis pumila (Ratz.), Diciadocerus sp. near westwoodii, Spilochalcis albifrons (Walsh), and MesopoZobus sp. Parasitism by A....
Dwarf mistletoes exert an impact on forest productivity, but this impact can be reduced through management practices. Even infested stands can yield considerable volumes if proper control methods are used. Projections of future yield increases due to control efforts are made. Cost of treatment in fiscal year 1973 was $51...
We conducted a combination road/plot impact survey for dwarf mistletoe in lodgepole pine on six East Side National Forests in 1978. The road survey showed infestation percentages ranging from 28.2 on the Custer to 52.4 on the Beaverhead. The plot survey showed annual cubic foot volume losses ranging from 106M...
This report documents the establishment of a study to determine the effect of thinning on incidence of mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopk., infestation in second-growth ponderosa pine stands in western Montana.
Although insufficient time has passed for a similar study in Oregon to yield a solid base for a...
Evaluation of four 35 mm film:lens combinations for estimating conifer mortality showed that large-scale true color images obtained with Kodak High Speed Ektachrome and color infrared images obtained with Kodak Ektachrome Infrared, both exposed through a 135 mm lens were best. Higher correlation coefficients were found for the true color:135...
An aerial survey during 1974 revealed approximately 5,000 acres of various degrees of Douglas-fir tussock moth, Orgyia pseudotsugata McD., defoliation in the lower Flathead Valley. An egg mass survey was made in September to determine the potential for damage in 1975. Based on new egg mass densities, significant defoliation may...
A mountain pine beetle infestation developed in lodgepole pine stands in the Gold Creek drainage in 1974. From 1974 to 1976 approximately 19,000 trees with an estimated volume of 10,210 cu m were killed. Based on buildup ratios, stand structure, size of trees, and residual green stand, it is predicted...
Mountain pine beetle populations developed to epidemic level in lodgepole pine stands in 1973. Approximately 426,355 trees were killed on 3,433 hectares in 1976. Infestations are expected to intensify in areas of current infestation and develop in uninfested stands. It is predicted that 1,722,288 trees will be killed in 1977....
A mountain pine beetle outbreak developed on the north face of Shook Mountain in 1972. Beetle populations increased, and have continued at an epidemic level since 1973. Surveys show 404,798 ponderosa pine containing 12,173,940 bd. ft. volume of merchantable timber; and 20,875 lodgepole pine containing 730,625 bd. ft. volume of...
Mountain pine beetle populations reached epidemic levels in 1972 in the Stoney Creek drainage, Ninemile District, Lolo National Forest, Montana. A total of 8,082 trees with an estimated volume loss of 34,356 board feet has occurred from 1972 to 1974. Buildup ratio was 1:1.2 from 1972 to 1973, and 1:1.8...
An outbreak of the pine engraver Ips pini (Say), was reported by Sonny LaSalle, Forester, in a mixed second-growth Douglas-fir,lodgepole, ponderosa pine stand on the Sandpoint Ranger District near Edgemere, Idaho. This report was received in early January 1974. An evaluation of the infestation was made April 18, 1974.
Residual Douglas-fir left after harvesting are dwarf mistletoe infected and pose a threat' to regeneration in some units. Removal of residuals, coupled with planned or completed site preparation and thinnings, will effectively reduce dwarf mistletoe incidence and increase future volume yields. The benefit/cost ratio based on timber values alone is...
Many nonmerchantable trees on proposed control areas in the Flathead Reservation are moderately to heavily infested with dwarf mistletoe. Control by sanitation-thinning is desirable and is both biologically and economically sound.
An infestation of a defoliating weevil, Magdalis gentilis LeConte, was
reported in July by Hank Manning, Judith Ranger District forester, Lewis
and Clark National Forest. The infestation occurs in precommercially
thinned stands of lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta var./atifblia Engelm.
in the Moose Creek drainage. Although damages caused by M. gentilis...
A western false hemlock looper, Neptyia freeman Munroe, outbreak was detected in the late summer of 1973 at the north end of Flathead Lake. Defoliation, from barely detectable to heavy (most foliage removed from upper half of trees), occurred on Douglas-fir over about 3,000 acres
located between Somers and Kalispell,...
Douglas-fir beetle, Dendroctonus pseudotsugae Hopk., has caused extensive tree mortality in the North Fork Clearwater River drainage since 1971. In 1974, survey estimates indicated a continued decline in the infestation. Average group size decreased from a high of 158 trees per group in 1971 to 17 in 1974. Average area...
Mountain pine beetle populations reached epidemic level on the Hebgen Lake Ranger District in 1970. Infested area increased from 6,680 acres in 1970 to 78,000 acres in 1977. Buildup ratio of trees killed in 1976 to trees killed in 1977 is 1:8. Approximately 1,700,000 trees, containing 175 MMBF of merchantable...
Mountain pine beetle populations developed to epidemic level in 1970 on the Hebgen Lake Ranger District. Infested acreage increased from 78,000 in 1977 to 79,061 in 1978. More than 4 million trees (238 MMBF) were killed in 1978. Cold temperatures during December 1978 may cause a significant decline in the...
Mountain pine beetle infestations developed to epidemic level in lodgepole pine stands on the Yaak District in 1972. Approximately 56,282 trees were killed from 1973 to 1975. By 1975, 2,068 ha were infested. This increased to 7,138 ha in 1976, representing a threefold increase. Current infestation occurs on 13 percent...
Mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosas Hopk., reached near epidemic levels in lodgepole pine stands in the Sulphur Creek-Black Butte area. Lodgepole pine are probably more susceptible due to the overstocked conditions of stands, and high incidence of girdling of the base of trees by porcupines. The infestation in this area...
Mountain pine beetle has occurred at epidemic level in lodgepole pine stands in the west Gallatin River drainage since 1969. Infestation now encompasses about 5,500 acres. Since 1969, approximately 463,212 trees, with an estimated volume of 20,529,244 board feet have been killed. Approximately 69 percent of the stands on the...
Mountain pine beetle reached epidemic levels in the Lap, Cool, Lang, and Caribou Creek drainages in 1974. From 1973 to 1975, approximately 56,282 trees with an estimated volume of 4,365,660 board feet were killed in these areas. An additional 61,721 trees are predicted to be killed in 1976. Currently infested...
Mountain pine beetle reached epidemic levels in the Lazier-Meadow Creek drainages on mixed ownership in 1972. A total of 118,486 trees with an estimated volume of 5,666,124 board feet was killed from 1972 through 1974. Presence of overstocked, mature, nearly pure lodgepole stands, coupled with favorable weather conditions, are believed...
Mountain pine beetle infestations in the Snell Creek and Warland Peak areas were evaluated in October 1975. Based on current buildup ratios, tree diameter distributions, stand composition and phloem thicknesses, there appears to be limited opportunity for epidemic potential in either area. Management alternatives are discussed. Selective logging is recommended...
Mountain pine beetle reached epidemic levels in second-growth ponderosa pine stands on Bureau of Indian Affairs and private lands on the Crow Indian Reservation. Approximately 9,106 trees containing 420,266 merchantable board feet were killed from 1971 to 1973. This is about 24 percent of the merchantable ponderosa pine in stands...
The mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosas Hopk., showed a significant advance northward from the 1970 infestation boundary, encompassing almost one-third of the total Park acreage. A fall survey conducted in the Park showed an average of 71.1 trees per acre with red or fading foliage from previous year's attacks and...
The mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopk., infestation advanced north and eastward from the 1971 infestation boundary in Yellowstone National Park. Infested trees were found in Indian Creek Campground at the north end of the park and around the north end of Yellowstone Lake. A ground survey showed an average...
An evaluation of the status of bark beetle infestations in ponderosa pine stands on Blue Mountain, Missoula District, Lolo National Forest, was made March 30 and April 4, 1972, at the request of personnel of the Missoula District.
Extensive group killing of ponderosa pine in the vicinity of Blue Mountain...
Many understory trees on proposed control areas are lightly to moderately infested with dwarf mistletoe. Control by thinning/ sanitation after logging will reduce infestations to a tolerable level and significantly increase volume yields in the future. The cost-benefit ratio of control is favorable.
Residual lodgepole pine in older clearcuts are dwarf mistletoe-infected and pose a threat to regeneration present. Removal of these residuals coupled with planned or completed precommercial thinnings will effectively reduce dwarf mistletoe to an insignificant level and increase future volume yields. The benefit/ cost ratios based on timber values alone...
Residual Douglas-fir in older clearcuts are dwarf mistletoe-infected and pose a threat to regeneration present. Removal of these residuals coupled with planned or completed precommercial thinnings will effectively reduce dwarf mistletoe to an insignificant level and increase future volume yields. The benefit/cost ratio based on timber values alone is negative,...
Residual lodgepole pine in older clearcuts are dwarf mistletoe-infected and pose a threat to regeneration present. Removal of these residuals coupled with planned or completed precommercial thinnings will effectively reduce dwarf mistletoe to an insignificant level and increase future volume yields. The benefit/cost ratio based on timber values alone is...
Many nonmerchantable trees on the proposed control areas are moderately to heavily infested with dwarf mistletoe. Control by sanitation-thinning is desirable and is both biologically and economically sound.
White pine blister rust still poses a threat to the relic limber pine stand in the Mammoth Hot Springs Terrace area; pruning of cankers is an effective means of preserving the limber pine as long as possible.
The Douglas-fir beetle, Dendroctonus pseudotsugae Hopk., has caused extensive tree mortality for the third consecutive year in the North Fork Clearwater River drainage in northern Idaho. In 1972, the infestation encompassed about 494,080 acres of commercial forest lands in this drainage. It was estimated from a tw-stage aerial photo-ground survey...
Mountain pine beetle infestation was detected in stands on the east side of Glacier National Park and the adjacent Blackfeet Indian Reservation in 1979. Infestation in the Park now encompasses an estimated 215,882 acres. About 200 acres are infested on the reservation. In areas sampled, number of trees killed per...
The pine butterfly, Neophasia menapia (Felder and Felder), infestation on the Nezperce National Forest was aerially surveyed in mid-August 1972.
A followup ground evaluation was made in September. Results of the survey
show the infestation has increased substantially in intensity and size.
The infestation was first reported in 1971 when...
An attempt was made in January 1971 to relate the numbers of hibernating western spruce budworm larvae on a square foot of bark surface with subsequent shoot damage on Douglas-fir and grand fir in northern Idaho.
Twenty-six plots sampled in January were also sampled in April to determine
if larval...
An evaluation to establish baseline data on forest insect and disease activity near a magnesium plant under construction in northeastern Washington was initiated in 1974. The plant will emit significant amounts of sulfur dioxide. Data indicates that several fungal and insect species are at low populations. Needle retention appears normal...
Two concentrations of dimethoate were applied with a hydraulic ground sprayer to cone-bearing Douglas-fir and grand fir trees. Single application (mid-June) and a double application (mid-June and mid-July) were compared. Three of the four treatments applied to Douglas-fir resulted in a significantly higher number of sound seeds produced per cone...
The lodgepole pine type commonly occurs as an even-aged, singlestoried, and overstocked forest. Dwarf mistletoe is widespread throughout the type and causes growth and quality reduction, reduced seed production, and some direct mortality. The land manager has three alternatives where dwarf mistletoe occurs: (1) do nothing, (2) eradicate the stand,...
Preliminary analysis of data from this study in the mountains southwest of the Anaconda Copper Smelter, an industrial source of SO2 and heavy metal particulate, reflects a complex pattern of pollutant impact. The differential effect of smelter emissions on plant life in the study area is best explained by the...
Douglas-fir tussock moth egg mass studies during winter 1974 indicate that natural factors such as low egg viability, egg parasitism, and virus do not alter the potential for heavy defoliation in two sections south of Frenchtown and one section northwest of Lolo, Montana.
Evaluation of Douglas-fir tussock moth, Orgyia pseudotsugata, egg masses collected from an outbreak area in the lower Flathead Valley indicated that overall egg viability was relatively high, egg parasitism was low, and virus infestation averaged 7.1 percent northwest of Polson, 17.9 percent south of St. Ignatius, and 57.0 percent west...
A study was conducted in summer of 1973 to assess impact of fluoride-insect damage on radial growth of lodgepole pine near the Anaconda Aluminum Company at Columbia Falls, Montana. Statistically significant growth losses attributed primarily to the effects of fluorides were found in 40 14 of 17 unmanaged stands for...
An evaluation was made during midsummer 1972 to measure damage by the carpenterworm, Prionoxystus robiniae, and the ash borer, Podosesia syringae, to green ash in windbreaks in North Dakota. Intensity of infestation was determined in four land resource areas and four age classes of windbreaks. Of the 96 windbreaks examined...
The pine needle cast fungus, Lophodermella concolor, caused severe discoloration and subsequent defoliation of lodgepole pine on over 4,000 acres and light defoliation on over 4,500 acres of lodgepole pine in the lower Clark Fork River drainage in 1975. Some trees had lost the last 3 years' growth of needles,...
The mountain pine beetle, Dendroetonus ponderosae Hopk., has been at epidemic levels in second-growth ponderosa pine stands in the Ninemile area of the Lolo National Forest and surrounding private lands since 1969. An impact survey, using two levels of photography and a small ground sample, was conducted to estimate a...
The mountain pine beetle reached epidemic levels in second-growth 80-yearold ponderosa pine stands on the Ninemile Ranger District in 1969. The
outbreak increased through 1971 and spread over 30,000 acres. Heavy
infestation occurred on about 2,600 acres within this area. A two-stage
survey was used during 1972 and 1973 to...
This report contains an overview of the present mountain pine beetle infestation in lodgepole pine stands on Federal, State, and private lands on the Plains Ranger District. Particular emphasis is placed on the potential for beetle mortality in the Thompson River drainage where recent ground surveys show more than 21...
Mortality from various causes was recorded in a Douglas-fir tussock moth, Orgyia pseudotsugata McD., outbreak southeast of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, in 1974. Observations began June 27 when about 50 percent of the larvae were second instars and continued until pupation. Within a 35-day period, there was a 93 percent average...
Eradication of Ribes spp. to control white pine blister rust in Yellowstone National Park was started in 1947. In 1968 this study was initiated to evaluate the previous control effort. Ribes eradication was suspended in 1968 in 18 white pine stands and Ribes and rust were allowed to increase within...
The benomyl fungicide, rersan, applied at 7 and 14 pounds active ingredient per acre, on April 26 and July 25, 1973, was ineffective in reducing mortality in 2-0 Engelmann spruce seedlings derived from two different seed sources growing in three different nursery sections at the USFS Coeur d'Alene Nursery. Percent...
Numerous stands of western larch, Larix occidentalis, on the St. Joe, Coeur d'Alene, and Kaniksu National Forests, Idaho, show signs of gradual deterioration following repeated defoliation by larch casebearer, Coleophora Zaricella Hbn. (Tunnock et al. 1969). Stand deterioration can occur after 4 years of continued heavy defoliation. The main symptom...
Dwarf mistletoe is known to reduce both height and diameter growth and thus reduce the yield of an infested stand. This comparison of two similar stands--one healthy and the other infested--gives an indication of the impact of this parasite. The healthy stand has produced 1.5 times the board foot volume...
Aerial surveys of the Nezperce National Forest in Idaho revealed 138,692 acres of aerially visible top kill and tree mortality due to repeated defoliation by western spruce budworm, Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman.
A small ground sample indicates that up to 47 percent of the grand fir volume was affected by top...
The western spruce budworm, Choristoneura occidentalis (Free.), has caused a measurable impact on a portion of the Flathead Indian Reservation during a 5-year infestation period. This survey showed that most of the grand fir and alpine fir, and 13.8 percent of the Douglas fir has been top killed in the...
During December 1978 and January 1979, temperatures reached all-time lows in some parts of Montana. Overwintering mountain pine beetle populations were sampled at 11 sites during February and March 1979. Effects of the extreme cold varied from site to site, with larval mortality ranging from 6 percent to 100 percent....
The forest tent caterpillar, Malacosoma disstria Hbn., began defoliating trembling aspen stands, Populus tremuloides Michx., in 1976 in the Turtle Mountains of North Dakota. Heavy defoliation was scattered through about 150,000 acres in 1978. Pupal mortality from parasites and disease was almost 100 percent in cocoons on understory shrubs and...