Washington Forest Health Issues in 2003

Spruce Beetle

The spruce bark beetle is usually present in small numbers in weakened and windthrown spruce trees. However, periodic outbreaks can occur where extensive windthrow events or large areas of overmature spruce exist. Unlike most other bark beetles they typically need two years to complete their life cycle.

The spruce beetle outbreak of the last few years in the northeast Cascades near Tiffany Mountain has largely subsided. This is because most of the suitable host trees have already been killed. However, there were scattered areas of elevated mortality in eastern Washington.

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