History of Infestations - Mountain Pine Beetle in Alberta

 
     
 
 
 
The mountain pine beetle is native to the temperate pine forest with a range extending from Mexico to central British Columbia.

Historically, the eastern edge of beetle distribution lies along the southern Rockies near the Alberta-British Columbia border where the effect of cold winter temperatures did not allow for beetles to establish themselves. There have, however, been localized outbreaks in Alberta in the past, with the earliest infestation recorded in the 1940s.

Beginning in 1975, a large-scale infestation occurred for a decade in the south-west corner of Alberta. This outbreak was managed through similar operational tactics as today. During this outbreak, cold temperatures in the fall resulted in significant population mortality. The most recent beetle infestations in northern Alberta began with the detection of small populations along the border with British Columbia in 2001. Detections of beetle populations increased in southwest Alberta in 2002.

Beetles arrived in west-central Alberta for the first time ever in June 2006. Strong winds occurred at the same time beetles emerged from their pine hosts and carried them 400 kilometres from central British Columbia into the region.

In 2009, another long-distance disbursal carried beetles from British Columbia into Alberta. Beetles disbursed into relatively the same area; however, they were detected farther east and in higher numbers.

  
 
 
 
For more information about the content of this document, contact Devon Belanger.
This information published to the web on March 1, 2016.