Pest Factsheet of Seed-bearing Trees: Mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae)

Published: Mar, 26 Mar 2013, 15:41
Last updated: Lun, 11 May 2015, 16:56
The mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins, is a member of a group of beetles known as bark beetles. Except when adults emerge and attack new trees, the mountain pine beetle completes its life cycle under the bark. The beetle attacks and kills lodgepole, ponderosa, sugar, and western white pines. Outbreaks frequently develop in lodgepole pine stands that contain well-distributed, large- diameter trees or in dense stands of pole-sized ponderosa pine. When outbreaks are extensive, millions of trees may be killed each year. Periodic losses of high-value, mature sugar and western white pines are less widespread but also serious. During epidemics, widespread tree mortality alters the forest ecosystem. Often, beetles have almost totally depleted commercial pine forests and, in some cases, have converted valuable forests to less desirable timber species, such as subalpine fir. Sometimes, forested areas are converted to grass and shrubs. The profusion of beetle-killed trees can change wildlife species composition and distribution by altering hiding and thermal cover and by impeding movement. Tree mortality may increase the water yield for several years following an infestation. Moreover, the dead trees left after epidemics are a source of fuel that will, in time, burn unless removed.
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• NPPO of Australia

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Type of contact: ONPF
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Submitted by: NPPO of Australia