Jeffrey Pine Beetle Biological Control

Dendroctonus jeffreyi (Hopkins)

From: Bellows, Thomas S. ,Carol Meisenbacher, and Richard C. Reardon, 1998, Biological Control of Arthropod Forest Pests of the Western United States: A Review and Recommendations, USDA, FS, FHTET-96-21.

Origin: North America

Range in North America: California

Plant host and damage: Pinus jeffreyi. The species is apparently monophagous on this pine. Damage is caused by adults boring into the bark and laying eggs in galleries between the bark and the wood, followed by larval feeding between the bark and the wood. Heavy infestations kill trees.

Natural Enemies: Little has been reported concerning natural enemies of D. jeffreyi. It is likely subject to clerid predation and hymenopteran paratism as are other Dendroctonus species. The role of vertebrates, including woodpeckers, has not been reported.

Pest Status: This is the most destructive bark beetle attacking P. jeffreyi. It normally breeds in scattered individual mature or overmature trees with retarded growth rates, or in lightning-struck or windthrown trees. It does not breed in slash. During the period 1930-1970, it destroyed 55 million board feet of lumber annually in California (Furniss and Carolin 1977).

Biological Control: No previous efforts at biological control of this species have been reported.

Recommendations: The impact of this beetle on its principal host, P.jeffreyi, appears related to variations in tree health and vigor. Biological control may be able to play only a limited role in affecting the damage attributed to this pest. Harvesting high-risk trees before infestation may help to retard or eliminate outbreaks. During epidemics, sanitation may play an important role in removing or reducing populations of the beetle, but care must be taken not to differentially remove natural enemies.

Knowledge of this species' natural enemy fauna and its impact is sparse. Quantitative research will be important before additional recommendations can be made regarding the potential role of natural enemies in affecting or limiting the damage caused by this beetle.

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