Pine Beetles Respond to Cooler Climate

New research finds evidence that bark beetles have a long history of responding vigourously to climate change.

Snow Lasts Longer in Beetle-killed Forests

Forests of dead pines left standing after a bark beetle infestation have been discovered influencing snow and weather in some ways like cleared patches and other ways like live forests.

Some Pines Have Genetic Resistance to Beetles

Scientists seized an unusual opportunity in British Columbia's mountain pine beetle tragedy to investigate whether there is a genetic basis for how well a pine tree resists bark beetles.

Pine Beetles Becoming Less Selective

When a mountain pine beetle epidemic first develops in an area, the insects are selective about which patches of trees they invade most intensively, but that soon changes.

Bark Beetles Benefit From Bad Storms

After a severe wind or ice storm breaks and topples trees, the fallen debris can end up incubating an epidemic of tree-boring insects.

Plenty of Trees Left After Pine Beetle Epidemic

Once mountain pine beetles kill off the mature lodgepole pine trees, many sites in central British Columbia should still be well-forested.

Warm Climate Opens Boreal Forest to Pine Beetles

Temperatures in boreal forests extending across Canada will soon be warm enough to accommodate mountain pine beetles.

Blue-stain Fungi Thrive in Jack Pine

As British Columbia’s massive mountain pine beetle infestation spreads eastwards, the question still remains as to whether the beetles can successfully invade Canada’s boreal jack pine forests.

More Water Around After Beetle Epidemic

Expect more water flowing after bark beetles finish with pine stands in central British Columbia.

Beetle-Killed Trees Host Succession of Fungi

As the sapwood of lodgepole pines attacked by mountain pine beetle dries, it harbours a dynamic mix of fungal species.

There’s Life After Pine Beetles

Lodgepole pine stands heavily hit by mountain pine beetles then left unmanaged for 25 years have become forests comprising an array of tree ages interspersed with standing and fallen snags.

Effects of Bark Beetles Still Evident After 65 Years

Lodgepole pine forests may never be the same, ecologically, following a mountain pine beetle epidemic.

Beetle Epidemic a Short-lived Boom for Birds

While British Columbia’s mountain pine beetle epidemic is shaping up to be a gold rush for some cavity-nesting birds, it appears the boom will soon bust.

Salvaging Beetle-killed Trees Leads to Flooding

Killing or removing most of a watershed’s forests dramatically alters the rate and amount of water flowing across the landscape.

Pine Beetle Infestation Displaces Wildlife

Wildlife will not suffer during the first few years after most trees in a forest are killed by mountain pine beetles.