Search

The following is an account of the important forest insect problems encountered on the Bridger National Forest this year.

An extensive examination of the ponderosa pine stands along the main Salmon River and the Little Salmon above Riggins, Idaho was made by the writer during the week of April 17 to 22, to determine the extent and seriousness of an infestation of the western pine beetle.

This is a report of forest insect conditions on the Ashley National Forest during 1970. Material for this report was compiled from control records, aerial survey data, and from on-the-ground evaluations.

On September 8, 1971, Timber Staff Officer Don Goodrich, Foresters Roy Morgan, and Darryl Johnson, and Pathologist Al Tegethoff visited the Campbell cutover area near Sheep Creek Park to evaluate the dwarf mistletoe Control Project possibilities.

The early fall examination of maple trees in the canyons near Salt Lake City, Utah, in the Wasatch National Forest, showed that the heavy epidemic of Agrilus politus was continuing, with considerable reinfestation in areas treated last spring.

The primary purpose of this examination was to determine the status of bark beetle infestation in ponderosa pine on those areas where the forest personnel had observed "red tops" resulting from attacks in 1939.

For the past two years considerable emphasis has been placed on losses to the Douglas-fir beetle by the Intermountain Pest Action Council, industry, and concerned Forest Service personnel.

On August 12 an examination was made of the Black Hills beetle situation on the Swain's Creek and Strawberry Creek drainages on the Duck Creek Ranger District. Control was carried out in this area during the past season against a rather aggressive local infestation.

A ground survey was conducted in the fall of 1972 within the Moose Creek Plateau Timber Sale on the Targhee National Forest by Regional Office entomologists. The purpose of the survey was to collect data on the current status of the mountain pine beetle (MPB) infestation within the lodgepole and white bark pine on this sale area.

The gypsy moth has been considered an introduced forest insect pest for the past 120 years. Introduced from France, it was accidentally released into Medford, Massachusetts, around 1869. Since then, it has gradually trailed the spine of the Appalachian Mountains into West Virginia.

The following report is a brief summary of the major forest insect conditions on the Targhee National Forest during 1965.