Download (PDF 441 KB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/38203.pdf
Abstract
Across western North America mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae), populations are growing at exponential rates in pine ecosystems that span a wide range of elevations. As temperature increased over the past several decades, the flexible, thermally-regulated life-history strategies of mountain pine beetle have allowed for increased population success in numerous habitats. Of particular concern are the high-elevation five-needle white pines that are currently being infested. In a recent study of high-elevation whitebark pine forests, mountain pine beetles from multiple generations were found killing pines within a single summer. These generations included parent beetles that overwintered and emerged to attack new host trees, adult beetles that developed in a single year (univoltine), and adult beetles that required two years for life-cycle completion (semivoltine).
Parent Publication
Keywords
high elevation five-needle pines,
threats,
whitebark,
Pinus albicaulis,
limber,
Pinus flexilis,
southwestern white,
Pinus strobiformis,
foxtail,
Pinus balfouriana,
Great Basin bristlecone,
Pinus longaeva,
Rocky Mountain bristlecone pine,
Pinus aristata
Citation
Bentz, Barbara; Campbell, Elizabeth; Gibson, Ken; Kegley, Sandra; Logan, Jesse; Six, Diana. 2011. Mountain pine beetle in high-elevation five-needle white pine ecosystems. In: Keane, Robert E.; Tomback, Diana F.; Murray, Michael P.; Smith, Cyndi M., eds. The future of high-elevation, five-needle white pines in Western North America: Proceedings of the High Five Symposium. 28-30 June 2010; Missoula, MT. Proceedings RMRS-P-63. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 78-84.
