An Aerial Observer's Guide to Recognizing and Reporting Southern Pine Beetle Spots

Southern Pine Beetle Handbook

United States Department of Agriculture, Combined Forest Pest Research and Development Program, Southern Pine Beetle Handbook, Agriculture Handbook No. 560 - Issued April 1980

Checklist for Summer Aerial Surveys

For detecting and reporting SPB spots from May through October, follow these guidelines:

• Decide if the observed trees show symptoms of recent SPB attack. Look for a group of dead and dying pines with at least some yellow crowns.
• For suspected SPB spots, determine if the number of yellow- and red-crowned trees exceeds the minimum reportable size.
• Plot the locations of all reportable spots as accurately as possible on a map or photo. Use landmarks such as clearings, road intersections, pipelines, and lakes.
• Estimate and record either the total number of affected trees (bare + red + yellow) or the number of recently infested trees (red + yellow).
• Assign a ground check priority to the spot, based on a priority table (table 1). Record this information on the map or photo.
• Report all information promptly to ground check crews.

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