INTERACTIONS AMONG BARK BEETLES, PATHOGENS, AND CONIFERS IN NORTH AMERICAN FORESTS

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0210684
• Multistate No.: W-1187
• Project Start Date: Jul 1, 2007
• Project End Date: Mar 31, 2009
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
888 N EUCLID AVE
TUCSON,AZ 85719-4824

Performing Department
Natural Resources & the Environment

Non Technical Summary
1. a. Slash contributes to increases in bark beetle populations. b. Pheromone traps are useful tools but little is known about their overall effectiveness in time and space. 2.a. The dynamics of bark beetle species across the landscape are known to be robust but little detail is available. b. Predators are a vital part of the ecology of bark beetles but little is known about their role in the system in regards to time and space. 1. a. This project examines the suitability of various sizes of logs for bark beetle reproduction. b. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of traps over various distances. 2. a. This project will determine the abundance of multiple bark beetle species thru time and space. b. This project will determine the abundance of multiple bark beetle predator species thru time and space.

Animal Health Component

45%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

10%

Applied

45%

Developmental

45%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
123	0120	1130	20%
123	0612	1130	20%
123	0720	1130	20%
216	0120	1130	10%
216	0612	1130	10%
216	0720	1130	20%

Knowledge Area
216 - Integrated Pest Management Systems; 123 - Management and Sustainability of Forest Resources;

Subject Of Investigation
0120 - Land; 0612 - Conifer forests of the West; 0720 - Pinyon-juniper;

Field Of Science
1130 - Entomology and acarology;

Keywords

bark beetle

logging/thinning slash

slash utilization

fecundity

phleom moisture

pinus ponderosa

lindgren funnel trap

western pine beetle

ips

dentroctonus

catch, release, recapture

fluorescent powder

pheromone

bark beetle predator

elevation

seasonal abundance

arizona

temnochila

enoclerus

flight behavior;

Goals / Objectives
1. Characterize the role of biotic and abiotic factors in predisposing trees to bark beetle attack and subsequent mortality. 2. Characterize the diversity and interactions among tree hosts, bark beetles, their natural enemies and associated fungi.

Project Methods
1. a. We are investigating the role that logging/thinning slash has on bark beetle populations, in particular, how the diameter and length of logs are utilized. We are also investigating the effect that stand density and time of year has on slash utilization. We have conducted a 2 year study in which we cut ponderosa pine trees into 6, 12, 18 and 24 inch lengths with 4, 6, 8, and 10 inch diameters. We repeated these treatments in 3 different stand densities. This experiment as outlined was repeated 8 times with 3 months between treatments dates. Bark beetle attack and fecundity rates have been measured. We are also measuring phloem moisture content. b. We are testing the flight characteristics of bark beetles through a catch, mark and release, and recapture study. We will use 2 complementary methods to determine the sampling range and effective sampling area of western pine beetle traps. To determine the long-range probability of beetle recapture (up to 1000 m), we will use beetles labeled with fluorescent powder released at a central point within an array of pheromone-baited traps distributed in cardinal directions at 50, 100, 250, 500 and 1000 m. Beetles for release will be obtained from pheromone-baited traps and marked with fluorescent powder. Concurrently, but in separate study areas, short-range probability of recapture (less than 100 m) will be assessed using beetles labeled with different colors released at 25, 50, 75, and 100 m in cardinal directions and trapped in a central pheromone-baited trap. 2. a. We are examining how abundance and flight periodicity of several Ips and Dendroctonus species change across an elevational gradient in the Pinus ponderosa Douglas ex. Lawson forests of north-central Arizona. Bark beetle populations were monitored at 10 sites in each of 3 elevation bands (Low: 1,600-1,736 m; Mid: 2,058-2,230 m; High: 2,505-2,651 m) using pheromone-baited Lindgren funnel traps. Trap contents were collected weekly from March to December for 3 years, weather permitting. We also investigated temperature differences across the elevational gradient and what role this may play in beetle flight behavior. Data loggers recorded ambient air temperature at 6 sites in each elevation band. Abundance and flight seasonality of 5 Ips and 5 Dendroctonus species were analyzed for the 3 different elevation bands. b.The primary objective of this study is to characterize the abundance and seasonality of 3 common bark beetle predators, Temnochila chlorodia, Enoclerus sphegus and Enoclerus lecontei, across an elevational gradient in ponderosa pine forests of north-central Arizona. Abundance and flight periodicity were determined using pheromone baited Lindgren funnel traps. We are comparing these results in relation to the abundance and flight seasonality of 5 bark beetle species in Arizona, Ips pini, I. lecontei and Dendroctonus frontalis, D. brevicomis and D. adjunctus.

Progress 07/01/07 to 03/31/09

Outputs
OUTPUTS: This project completed studies on: the factors influencing pine engraver colonization of ponderosa pine slash in northern Arizona; managing slash to minimize colonization of residual leave trees by ips and other bark beetle species following thinning in southwestern ponderosa pine; the evaluation of funnel traps for characterizing the bark beetle communities in ponderosa pine forests of northern Arizona; the lack of genetic differentiation in aggressive bark beetles from Arizona; the influence of temperature on spring flight initiation for Southwestern ponderosa pine bark beetles; and the influence of elevation on bark beetle community structure and flight periodicity in ponderosa pine forests of Arizona. PARTICIPANTS: C.J. Allender, Graduate Student, Northern Arizona University; J.A. Anhold, Entomologist, Forest Health Protection, USDA Forest Service; K.M. Clancy, Entomologist, Forest Research Station, USDA Forest Service; T.E. DeGomez, Extension Specialist, University of Arizona; M.L. Gaylord, Graduate Student, Northern Arizona University; C. J. Hayes, Research Technician, University of Arizona; R. Hofstetter, Professor, Northern Arizona University; P. Keim, Professor, Northern Arizona University; J.D. McMillin, Entomologist, Forest Health Protection, USDA Forest Service; A. Miller, Research Technician, University of Arizona; C.J. Fettig, Entomologist, Forest Research Station, USDA Forest Service; D.M. Wagner, Professor, Northern Arizona University; K.K. Williams, Research Technician, University of Arizona; S.A. Woolbright, Graduate Student, Northern Arizona University; TARGET AUDIENCES: Managers of private, state, federal and municipal forests in the southwestern US. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
Guidelines for slash management for ponderosa pine were formulated and published in a University of Arizona Extension bulletin. This project has led to new understanding of which bark beetles occur at varying population densities across the elevational gradient in Arizonan ponderosa pine dominated forests. USDA Forest Service grant funding was essential in order for these outcomes. Other resources provided by University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University and the Forest Service were vital to the culmination of this research and subsequent recommendations.

Publications

• Williams, K.K., J.D. McMillin, and T.E. DeGomez. 2009. Relative and Seasonal Abundance of Three Bark Beetle Predators (Coleoptera: Trogositidae, Cleridae) Across an Elevation Gradient in Ponderosa Pine Forests of North Central Arizona. W. N. Am. Nat. 65:351-363.
• Hayes, C.J., R. Hofstetter, T.E. DeGomez, and M.R. Wagner. 2009. Effects of sunlight exposure and log size on pine engraver (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) reproduction in ponderosa pine slash in Northern Arizona. Ag. & For. Ent. 11:341-350.

Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07

Outputs
OUTPUTS: 1. We conducted a two year study in which we cut ponderosa pine trees into 6, 12, 18 and 24 inch lengths with 4, 6, 8, and 10 inch diameters. We repeated these treatments in 3 different stand densities. This experiment as outlined was repeated eight times with three months between treatments dates. Bark beetle attack and fecundity rates have been measured. We also measured phloem moisture content. 2. We examined how abundance and flight periodicity of several Ips and Dendroctonus species change across an elevational gradient in the Pinus ponderosa Douglas ex. Lawson forests of north-central Arizona. Bark beetle populations were monitored at 10 sites in each of three elevation bands (Low: 1,600-1,736 m; Mid: 2,058-2,230 m; High: 2,505-2,651 m) using pheromone-baited Lindgren funnel traps. Trap contents were collected weekly from March to December for three years, weather permitting. We also investigated temperature differences across the elevational gradient and what role this may play in beetle flight behavior. Data loggers recorded ambient air temperature at 6 sites in each elevation band. Abundance and flight seasonality of five Ips and five Dendroctonus species were analyzed for the three different elevation bands. 3. We conducted a study to characterize the abundance and seasonality of three common bark beetle predators, Temnochila chlorodia, Enoclerus sphegus and Enoclerus lecontei, across an elevational gradient in ponderosa pine forests of north-central Arizona. Abundance and flight periodicity were determined using pheromone baited Lindgren funnel traps. We compared these results in relation to the abundance and flight seasonality of five bark beetle species in Arizona, Ips pini, I. lecontei and Dendroctonus frontalis, D. brevicomis and D. adjunctus. 4. Conducted first year of three year study titled "Bugs and Burns: Effects of Fire on Ponderosa Pine Bark Beetle". We established plots and collected baseline data on stand conditions and fire damage to individual trees within plots. 5. Conducted the Arizona part of the study titled "Determine Effective Sampling Area of Western Pine Beetle Pheromone Trap". In 2007 we caught, marked, released and recaptured bark beetles to test the effectiveness of the western pine beetle lure and trap. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
1. Guidelines for slash management for ponderosa pine were formulated and published in a University of Arizona Extension bulletin. 2. This project has led to new understanding of which bark beetle occur at varying population densities across the elevational gradient that is so common in Arizona's ponderosa pine dominated forests.

Publications

• DeGomez, T., C.J. Fettig, J.D. McMillin, J.A. Anhold, and C. Hayes. 2008. Managing Slash to Minimize Colonization of Residual Leave Trees By Ips and Other Bark Beetle Species Following Thinning in Southwestern Ponderosa Pine. University of Arizona, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Bulletin. AZ1449. Tucson, Arizona.
• Hayes, C.J., T.E. DeGomez, K.M. Clancy, K.K. Williams, J.D. McMillin and J.A. Anhold. 2008. Evaluation of Funnel Traps for Characterizing the Bark Beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) Communities in Ponderosa Pine Forests of Northern Arizona. J. Econ. Ent. 100:1253-1265.
• Allender, C.J., K.M. Clancy, T.E. DeGomez, J.D. McMillin, S.A. Woolbright, P. Keim, and D.M. Wagner. 2008. Lack of Genetic Differentiation in Aggressive Bark Beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) from Arizona. J. Envir. Ent. 37:817-824.
• Gaylord, M.L., K. K. Williams, R. W. Hofstetter, J. D. McMillin, T. E. DeGomez, and M. R. Wagner. 2008. Influence of temperature on spring flight initiation for Southwestern ponderosa pine bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae). J. Envir. Ent. 37:57-69. Williams, K.K., J.D. McMillin, T.E. DeGomez, K.M. Clancy, and A. Miller. 2008. Influence of Elevation on Bark Beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) Community Structure and Flight Periodicity in Ponderosa Pine Forests of Arizona. J. Envir. Ent. 37:94-109.
• Hayes, C.J., T.E. DeGomez, J.D. McMillin, J.A. Anhold, and R. Hofstetter. 2008. Factors Influencing Pine Engraver (Ips pini Say) Colonization of Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex. Laws.) Slash in Northern Arizona. For. Eco. & Mgt. 255:3541-3548.