The primary indicator that a pine is infested with mountain pine beetle is the presence of pitch tubes, like the ones shown on this dying Ponderosa Pine at Pioneer Park in Torrington. Photo/ Andrew Cummins

It’s not new to the area, but the mountain pine beetle is starting to kill more pine trees in Goshen County.

The insects have taken advantage of what University of Wyoming Extension Educator Jeff Edwards described as a “perfect storm” of conditions to infest area pines.

“Because of the drought situations that we’ve had, it’s just kind of a perfect storm of conditions that have allowed these beetles to increase in number and in distribution,” he said, adding that these factors have led to more tree deaths recently in Goshen County.

Matt John, head of the Torrington Parks Department, said his staff has noticed pine beetle infestations on both private and public property in the city.

John said his department has already cut down five Ponderosa Pines in Pioneer Park in Torrington, adding that six more need to be taken down at the park at some point.

“I have a problem with taking them out of the park, I also don’t want those things falling on somebody too,” he said.

John said the trees cut down at Pioneer Park will eventually be replaced, but not with mature trees.

The insects go dormant around this time of year, but Edwards and horticulturist Jerry Simonsen are already preparing for the beetles’ next flight, as the time right before that is when chemicals should be applied.

The two plan to contact the forestry service about putting up monitoring traps in the area to get a better gauge on when the insects disperse in the spring.

The most obvious sign of the beetles are pitch tubes of sap on the stem of pine trees, while another indication is a pile of sawdust or frass at the base of the tree, Edwards said.

If a resident thinks one of their trees might be infested, John said they can call him about setting up an appointment to check out the situation.

Because cutting down a tree can cost between $600 and $800 dollars, John said he’s looking into possible state or federal programs where residents can get financial help if that step needs to be taken.

However, Edwards said residents should consider contacting professionals about having their tree cut down if it is dying, noting that a telltale sign of that situation is yellow or red needles on the tree.

Because the beetles have a higher success rate at attacking stressed or weak trees, Edwards and Simonsen both said watering trees is critical to protecting them against severe infestation.

While the beetle has been in the area for quite some time and has been aided by droughts, John and Edwards both said the transportation of firewood from forests in areas like Laramie Peak to Goshen County is a contributing factor.

If people cut down firewood from trees inhabited with the beetles and don’t burn them during the winter, then the insects will disperse in the spring and attack more trees, John said.

“What you’re basically doing is if you’ve got any of those trees that it can affect, you’re just harboring the host,” he said.

To combat that potential problem, Edwards recommends people wrap their firewood completely in a clear plastic, which heats up the wood and eventually kills the insects.

“It actually forces the beetles to mature, and then they emerge from that wood and they’re trapped and they die inside of that plastic,” he said.

While research is conducted this winter, John said he is looking at holding an open forum for the public later in the winter where he and others will be available to answer any questions.

“It’s a bug that we need to get a real good handle on,” he said, adding that the beetles have the potential to be as dangerous to area trees as diseases like Dutch Elm.



For the complete article see the 11-13-2009 issue.

Click here to purchase an electronic version of the 11-13-2009 paper.

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