A Field Guide for Ground Checking Southern Pine Beetle Spots

Southern Pine Beetle Handbook

United States Department of Agriculture
Combined Forest Pest Research and Development Program - Agriculture Handbook No. 558 - Issued November 1979

Checklist

• Verify that trees were killed by SPB
• See if any stage 1 trees are present.
• Mark and count all stage 1 and 2 trees.
• Measure basal area of pine about 20 feet in front of the active head or heads.
• Note whether the stand contains mainly pulpwood or sawtimber.
• Using table 1, determine the control priorities.
• If control is to be applied promptly, mark the buffer strip of uninfested pines around the active head.
• Flag a route back to the nearest road or landmark.
• Report ground check information promptly.

Table 1. – Guide to southern pine beetle spot growth and control priorities (May through October)

Key to spot growth	Your spot's classification	Risk-rating points
A. Stage 1 Trees	absent present	0 30
B. Stage 1 and 2 trees	1 - 10 11 - 20 21 - 50 more than 50	0 10 20 40
C. Pine basal area (ft2/acre) (or stand density) at atcive head or heads	less than 80 (low density) 80-120 (medium density) more than 120 (High density)	0 10 20
Stand class by average d.b.h. (in inches)	pulpwood (9 in or less) sawtimber (more than 9 in)	0 10

Total ¹                                                  
If the total is 70-100 control priority is High.  If total is 40-60 control priority is Medium.  If total is 0-30 control priority is Low

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