Insects and diseases have the potential of seriously affecting timber associated resources on eastside forests within the foreseeable future. Within the past decade, lodgepole pine mortality attributed to the mountain pine beetle has totaled tens of millions of trees on the Gallatin and Beaverhead National Forests (NF) alone. In that...
Insect damage was extensive to Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine, western white pine, and western larch cones at most seed production areas surveyed in 1979. From 70 to 100 percent of the cones from several collecting periods were injured. Moderate damage (40-70 percent of cones injured) occurred to Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine, western...
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...
We analyzed the effects of pathogens and insects on forest succession in the absence of
fire or management, addressing a number of related questions:
1. What is the rate of change in such forests?
2. How significant are the roles of pathogens and insects in the forest change?
3. How...
Ground surveys on the Hungry Horse District indicate a potential for mountain pine beetle infestation in lodgepole pine. Based on elevation-latitude, mean d.b.h. and phloem thickness, and age, stands were given a susceptibility classification of high risk. An infestation in Glacier National Park may provide the beetle source. Management alternatives...
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...
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...
Mountain pine beetle populations increased in 1979 in the Thompson River drainage to levels predicted following the 1978 attack period. New attacks in 1979 averaged 27 per acre. Current estimates indicate another 25 percent of the remaining lodgepole pine could be killed in 1980.
This evaluation showed that Bt provided measurable foliage protection 1 year after treatment, but no differences were evident after 2 years. We recommend future Bt tests include postspray population measurements in the pupal and/or adult, and/or egg stage, and that foliage protection be measured the following year. The effects of...
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...
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...
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.
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...
Mountain pine beetle populations developed to epidemic level on the Bozeman-Gallatin Ranger District in 1969. Approximately 146,000 acres are currently infested. Since 1969, over 350 MMBF have been killed. It is predicted that over 4 million trees could be killed in 1978. Infestation is predicted to intensify in high-hazard stands....
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...
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...
Large areas of dwarf mistletoe-free, all-aged lodgepole pine have been identified in the West Yellowstone Basin. The option of uneven-aged management in these areas remains available to the District.
Mountain pine beetle developed to epidemic level in lodgepole pine stands in 1969 on the Gallatin District and in 1970 on the Hebgen Lake District. Epidemic infestation occurs on 53,437 hectares. Infestations will intensify in most areas currently infested and develop in uninfested stands, and in excess of 2 million...
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....
Mountain pine beetle developed to epidemic levels in lodgepole pine stands in the Thompson River drainage in 1971. Approximately 506,616 trees are infested on 4,444 hectares. Based on buildup ratios, infestations are expected to intensify; develop in uninfected stands; and kill about 1,763,024 trees in 1977. Salvage logging of infested...
A pilot survey was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of using multistage sampling techniques to measure annual and cumulative mortality on a State-wide basis with acceptable statistical reliability, timeliness, and cost. Within the State of Montana, aerial surveys showed about 986,000 acres of lodgepole pine infested with mountain pine beetle....
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...
Thirty permanent mountain pine beetle population trend plots were established in each of six areas in the state in 1979. Infestation levels ranged from 0 to 47.8 new attacks per acre. The potential for increased mortality is considered high for all areas. Each area will be evaluated for 5 years...
The mountain pine beetle infestation in Corral, Little Corral, and Cache Creeks on the Crow Indian Reservation, Montana has been increasing for the past several years. Trees killed per acre averaged 38.8 in 1979. Our predictions for the future trend of the infestation, plus management alternatives to lessen its severity,...
Mountain pine beetle infestations in second-growth ponderosa pine developed in 1973 in the Little Rocky Mountains. In 1976, increasing numbers of attacked trees were observed. Current infestation intensity averages 7.1 trees per acre. Losses are expected to continue as long as stands remain overstocked and stagnated. Reduction of basal area...
Based on per acre costs, plantation establishment is one of the most expensive silvicultural practices (Pfister 1976), but only token studies have been done on frequency and causes of seedling injury and mortality in Region 1 plantations (Wenner 1976). Therefore, we conducted a survey in 1978 on four National Forests...
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....
Epidemic populations of the western spruce budworm persist in the Northern Region. Aerial surveys made in August 1976 showed a decline in the acreage of aerially visible defoliation. In northern Idaho, the defoliated area dropped from 831,487 acres in 1975 to 655,711 acres in 1976, down 21 percent. Surveys in...
A needle miner, Coleotechnites sp., defoliated approximately 3,100 acres of ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa Laws. on the Flathead Indian Reservation, Montana, during 1978. Three other small areas in the Missoula Valley were infested also. Overwintering populations of larvae are low; thus, light defoliation is expected in 1979 in presently infested...
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...
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...
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...
Mountain pine beetle infestations in second-growth ponderosa pine have been chronic in the Little Belt and Big Snowy Mountains since 1947. In 1976, increasing numbers of attacked trees were observed. Current infestation intensity averages 82 trees per hectare. Losses are expected to continue as long as stands remain stagnates. Commercial...
Mountain pine beetle populations developed to epidemic level in Glacier National Park in 1972. Buildup ratio of old to newly attacked trees was 1:1.8 from 1976 to 1977. More than 12 million trees are infested on 142,871 acres. Buildup ratio is expected to exceed 1:3 from 1977 to 1978. Management...
Mountain pine beetle populations began increasing in Glacier National Park in 1970. Numbers of infested trees increased steadily from an average of 12 to 115 per hectare from 1972 to 1976. Total hectares of infestation have increased from 445 in 1972 to 40,419 ha in 1976. Predictive equations estimate a...
Western spruce budworm defoliated area in the Northern Region has differed significantly across three discrete geographic zones during the past decade. Aerially visible defoliation in northern Idaho increased from 1.7 million acres in 1969 to a high of 2.2 million acres in 1974, and declined to none in 1979. Defoliated...
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 larch casebearer, Coleophora laricella (Hubner) was first reported attacking western larch, Larix occidentalis, in Idaho in 1957 (Denton, 1958), 71 years after its introduction into Massachusetts from Europe. The apparent successful regulation of this insect in the eastern U.S. by introduced parasites prompted biological control attempts in the West....
Douglas-fir tussock moth populations are monitored annually in northern Idaho and western Montana to insure early detection of changes from endemic to outbreak population levels. Adult moth trapping in 1982 was intensified and expanded into additional areas from 1981 because of concern that with each passing year the probability of...
A severe wildfire burned 454 hectares of a second-growth Douglas-fir forest
in 1977 on a north-facing slope in Pattee Canyon, near Missoula, Montana. The
slope was aerially seeded with a grass mixture, from which Dactylis glomerata
established best. Community structure, conifer regeneration, and the impact of the
seeded grass on...
Windthrow occurred during late April on the Glacier View, Hungry Horse, Spotted Bear, and Swan Lake Ranger Districts, Flathead National Forest. An evaluation to determine potential for development of spruce beetle and Douglas-fir beetle outbreaks was made during late June and early July. All areas examined were classed as having...
Mountain pine beetle infestations have continued at epidemic level in
lodgepole pine stands since 1969 in the West Gallatin River drainage.
This infestation has increased at about a 1.9:1 buildup ratio annually.
Since the outbreak began in 1969, surveys indicate that approximately 22,354 merchantable size trees have been killed with...
A mountain pine beetle infestation has been active in the St. Regis area since 1964. Heaviest tree mortality occurred during the period 1969-70. The infestation has continued to decline since 1970. Over 2 million board feet of lodgepole and ponderosa pine were killed during the outbreak. Overstocking resulted in slow...
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...
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...
Six species of Cleridae, including Enoclerus spegeus Fabricius,
E. lecontei Wolcott, E. schaefferi (Barr), E. eximius Mannerheim,
Thanasimus undatulus Say, and an undescribed species of Enoclerus,
were found on Douglas-fir in western Oregon. E. sphegeus was the
only clerid of the six species studied which was primarily associated
with the...
The early stages of secondary succession of the
McDonald and Paul Dunn State Forests, Corvallis, Oregon,
were grouped into three stages; herb, herb-shrub, and
shrub, based on vegetation types. Flowers of herbaceous
species and residual shrubs dominated in the early years
after clear-cutting. Woody plants became increasing
abundant in the...
The series of mountain pine beetle infestations existing on the Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District, Lob National Forest, since 1971 continued into 1988. While some infestations are waning, others are increasing. The potential for beetle-caused mortality exists in threatened, but as yet uninfested stands. Management alternatives are discussed.
Residual Douglas-fir, western larch, and lodgepole pine are dwarf mistletoe-infested and pose a threat to existing regeneration. Felling or girdling these residuals, along with sanitation/thinning, will reduce mistletoe intensity and increase future volume yields. Present net worth of the project is $48.05/acre. Benefit cost ratio is 1.97/1. Use of pest...
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...
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...
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 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 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...
The arthropod community in a Douglas-fir forest near Blue River, Lane County, Oregon was investigated from March through August 1973. Five stands of Douglas-fir were sampled: two clearcuttings, a young-growth
(20 years old), a midgrowth (125 years old), and an old-growth (450 years old) plot. A pole pruner was used...
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...
This bibliography, an apparently haphazard sampling of literature from many sources, grew out of a general project that was intended to elucidate the role of consumers in the forest system. The 124 articles
briefly abstracted here are ones that give some insight into the role of foliage-feeding insects. The process...
The purpose of insect and disease damage surveys is to estimate losses caused by various pests, so that the land manager can prescribe appropriate management action. Systematic ground data collection systems provide to the land manager loss data that can be used for cost benefit analysis, management plans, environmental impact...
Published May 1986. Facts and recommendations in this publication may no longer be valid. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog
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 mountain pine beetle infestation existing on the Crow Indian Reservation (IR) since the early 1970's, and later developing principally in the western portion of the Northern Cheyenne IR, continued into 1984. Survey results indicate the infestation is still building on both Reservations. To help develop beetle management strategies appropriate...
A survey for incidence and distribution of root diseases was conducted on the Kootenai National Forest using timber inventory subcompartments as primary sample units. Root diseases were located within 23 of 75 sampled subcompartments. At least 1.1 percent of the commercial forest lands within the Forest are infested with root...
Douglas-fir beetle has increased to epidemic levels in mature-overmature Douglas-fir that has been top killed by western spruce budworm. About 42 trees per acre have been killed in an area at Lyon's Face and 36 trees per acre in other areas along the Madison River during the past 3 years....
Six Montana areas in which permanent mountain pine beetle trend plots were established in 1979 were revisited in 1980. Results of the visit show infestation intensity decreased significantly in Centennial Valley, decreased slightly in the Madison River plot area, and increased almost threefold in the Murr Creek area. Beetle populations...