Historic, archived document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. on Paper No. 23 1.9622 June 1956 ' R25t2 iE / . : @ @ - Forest usect Coudttious y IN ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO __., 1955 =sa AR | a! ARS ay | JUN 2 8 JODO x \ By ae cunt M. Yasinski g, DEPARTMEN c ‘ fe Ae eae — nae ia Ce as ois ean git ee ms \ Flagstaff Alb A uque rque ARIZONA NEW MEXICO | Cloudcroft r OE paLe ROCKY MOUNTAIN FOREST AND RANGE EXPERIMENT STATION . Raymond Price, Director ’ Fort Collins, Colorado REST SERVICE, ovo. soe AR T MENT OF AGRICULTURE , = Cw Pe : United States Department of Agriculture NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL LIBRARY Advancing Access to Global Information for Agriculture x FOREST INSECT CONDITIONS IN ST ZONA AND eau MEXICO 1955 By F. M. /Yasinski, Entomologis CONTENTS Regional forest insect conditions in brief Aerial reconnaissance Status of major insect pests during 1955 Pine bark beetles ...... Fir and spruce bark beetles . Defoliating insects ..... Insect control plans for 1956 .. Spruce budworm <2 =< =. « » Black Hills beetle ..... Great Basin tent caterpillar Fall webworm e e e e e e e e e e e e Miscellaneous defoliating insects e e e e e e e e e ‘ | U.S.D.A. CATAL( _ Albuquerque Forest Insect and Disease Labora MAY 9 e e e e ° e e 1955 control accomplishments by forest-managing agencies Infestations proposed for control in 1956 e e e e ° 1/ Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Forest Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, with central headquarters at Fort Collins, Colorado, in cooperation with Colorado A & M College, Fort Collins, Colorado. ween i i; ah 1 TS cena herent edn CLAS EEIVL Ss re ae ae I eB Pith CaN 1 i j on ay iy 1) , i ae id a. ; ee AAP mesa ; ; ae é . ? 5 : y “f , r ' , i 7 we ; REGIONAL FOREST INSECT CONDITIONS IN BRIEF The drain on timber resources of Arizona and New Mexico by forest insects contimed at an epidemic rate in 1955. The spruce budworm caused light to heavy defoliation on 00,000 acres of mixed conifer type. Ponderosa pine stands were plagued with several species of pine bark beetles; approximately 131 million board-feet of timber was killed by these insects. Volume of Douglas-fir killed by the Douglas-fir beetle is placed at 10 million board- feet. Aspen defoliation by Great Basin tent caterpillar continued to increase in severity and extent. One insect pest, the fir en- graver beetle, was less destructive than in 195). A brief résum@ of important forest insect infestations during 1955 follows: 1. The southwestern pine beetle and associated bark beetle species were responsible for most of the insect-caused losses of ponderosa pine. The heaviest and most concentrated areas of tree killing were in northern and central New Mexico and near Springerville, Arizona. 2. Spruce budworm defoliation of mixed conifer and spruce-fir stands increased in severity and extent in all known centers of infestation not sprayed with DDT during 1955. In addition, a new center of heavy budworm feeding was found in the Chuska Mountains, Navajo Indian Reservation. In fact, all stands of mixed conifer and spruce-fir in Arizona and New Mexico appear to be infested to varying degrees. Areas that had been treated on Mt. Taylor in 1953 and on the Sandia Mountains in 195) were heavily reinfested in 1955. 3. Great Basin tent caterpillar epidemics occur in many of the aspen stands. Defoliation is heaviest in the extensive aspen stands of northern New Mexico and northern Arizona. 4. The fir engraver beetle infestation in white fir in the Sandia Mountains, Cibola National Forest, killed an estimated 37,000 trees in 1954. Tree-loss estimates for 1955 are not available, but results of an observational survey in the fall of 1955 indicate a subsiding infestation. 5. The Douglas-fir beetle contimes as a serious enemy of Douglas-fir throughout the stands of Arizona and New Mexico. The volume of timber losses in 1955 is estimated at 10 million board-feet, with no indications of a decrease for 1956. Current infestations are largely limited to in- accessible areas of low economic value. | 6. Black Hills beetle activity in the region was markedly reduced by direct control measures. An epidemic outbreak on the Chuska Unit of the Navajo Indian Reservation was reduced substantially by direct control action. 7. Engelmann spruce beetle activity on the Tres Piedras District of the Carson National Forest is being con- trolled by nature. The flareup was caused by beetles that bred in cull logs and windthrown trees in logging areas. AERIAL RECONNAISSANCE Funds for aerial reconnaissance were insufficient for a systematic aerial coverage of all forest lands in Arizona and New Mexico in 1955. Priority areas were selected with the co- operation of land-managing agencies in the region. The flight schedules in Arizona and New Mexico were arranged in conference with various land-managing agencies to cover remote timber areas suspected of having increased beetle activity in 1955 and known bark beetle problem areas. The survey covered parts of seven National Forests, four Indian Reservations and one National Monument. Total flying time was 35 hours and 50 minutes, of which 25 hours and 20 mimutes were devoted to actual survey time and 10 hours and 30 minutes to ferrying time. The survey was made during September and October. The planes used on survey, a Cessna 180 and a Piper Cub Tri-pacer, were chartered from private companies operating in Arizona and New Mexico. STATUS OF MAJOR INSECT PESTS DURING 1955 Pine Bark Beetles The southwestern pine beetle (Dendroctonus barberi) and associated bark beetle species (QE convexifrons and D. approximatus s) killed approximately 131 million board-feet of ponderosa pine timber in Arizona and New Mexico in 195. Estimated losses for 1955 equal or surpass this figure. Damage was most severe on the Bandelier National Monument and the adjacent Los Alamos Withdrawal Area, where an estimated 6,000 trees were killed in 1955. On the Apache National Forest, 5 million board-feet of bug-killed timber was salvaged in 1955, and on the Magdalena District, Cibola National Forest, trees are dying from beetle attack throughout the District's ponderosa pine type. Extreme drought in the Southwest for the past several years undoubtedly contri- buted to the increase of these destructive forest insect pests. pam Tee shis is especially true on marginal sites where losses are the heaviest. Black Hills beetle.-—-A marked aecrease was noted in the number of trees killed by the Black Hills beetle. Only two known infestation centers were active in the spring of 1955; one on the Carson National Forest, comprising 76 infested trees; and one on the Navajo Indian Reservation, estimated at 1,10) infested trees. Control measures were carried out in both areas. Post-control examinations of the treated areas revealed a very substantial reduction in 1955 attacks. Although control measures reduced populations in areas where applied, past records show that complete control of the pest is seldom attained in 1 year. Limited tree killing by the beetle is expected in areas controlled in 1955, necessitating maintenance control in 1956. No new reports of Black Hills beetle activity were received during 1955. Fir and Spruce Bark Beetles The fir engraver (Scolytus ventralis) infestation, active since 1950 in the Sandia Recreational Areas on the Cibola National Forest, may be subsiding. An observational survey around the periphery of several groups of 195) attacks revealed no new attacks. The District Ranger, in his anmal insect-conditions report, states that although tree killing by the beetle continues, there appears to be a reduction in the intensity of the epidemic. This reduction may have been due to rains that alleviated the long drought. However, until an appraisal survey is made in 1956, no definite conclusions can be drawn as to the trend of this outbreak. The Douglas-fir beetle (Dendroctonus pseudotsugae ) con- tinues as a serious pest of Douglas-fir stands throughout New Mexico and Arizona. Scattered, as well as group killing, was observed in most Douglas-fir stands. Volume of timber lost to the beetle in 1955 is estimated to be 10 million board-feet or more. From an economic standpoint this loss is not so serious as it might be because of the inaccessibility of most areas suffer- ing heavy damage. Engelmann spruce beetle (Dendroctonus engelmanni) activity of noticeable proportions was limited to the Tres Piedras District of the Carson National Forest. It is estimated that 500 trees were attacked in 1955. The flareup of spruce beetle in this area is attributed to logging activity in adjacent areas. The cutting areas, all on private holdings, provided suitable breed- ing material for the insect.’ Upon emergence from windthrown trees, cull logs,and stumps, the beetles attacked neighboring green standing spruce. Natural checks, especially woodpeckers, seem to be holding the outbreak under control. Defoliating Insects Spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) infestations in mixed conifer and spruce-fir type on the Santa Fe, Carson, Cibola, and Lincoln National Forests were treated by aerial application of DDT during June and July 1955. Rate of application was 1 pound per acre. Total acres treated was )/)1,000, or approximately half of the total acreage (800,000) in need of treatment as determined by the 195) surveys. Average mortality of the insects from the treatment was approximately 90 percent. Budworm defolia- tion on the remaining untreated ],00,000 acres varied from light to heavy. Several infestations of noticeable size extended their boundaries. Epidemic populations of budworm were recorded for the first time on the Chuska Unit of the Navajo Indian Reservation. Reports from various cooperators indicate that budworm is present to some degree in all conifer and spruce-fir stands in Arizona and New Mexico. To date, tree mortality in epidemic areas is greatest in the understory, but general mortality of mature trees is expected over much of the epidemic area within the next 2 to © 3 years if the infestation continues at its present rate of intensity. The Great Basin tent caterpillar (Malacosoma fragilis) continued to defoliate extensive stands of aspen in northern New Mexico and northern Arizona. Localized areas repeatedly defoliated for the past several years suffered heavy mortality, which may be approaching serious proportions in that these areas are important watersheds. Some improvement in the Taos area of the Carson National Forest is expected in 1956 because of a virus disease. that appeared in 1955 and caused considerable mortality of the caterpillars. Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea) outbreaks on cottonwood occurred in localized areas throughout the region. A heavy infestation was successfully controlled with DDT in Oak Creek Canyon on the Coconino National Forest during the fall of 1955. A water emulsion of DDT at a rate of 1 pound per acre was applied by the use of a mist blower. INSECT CONTROL PLANS FOR 1956 As in 1955, the control of spruce budworm epidemics should receive high priority in the 1956 program inasmuch as extensive areas of mixed conifer type on Federal and private lands are still threatened. Maintenance control against the Black Hills beetle should be continued. Suppression of other pine beetle outbreaks will be carried out by salvage logging. Proposed forest insect-control projects for 1956 as decided upon in conjunction with land-managing agencies and in consultation with the Southwest Pest Control Committee are as follows: Spruce budworm Spruce budworm feeding of varying degree is prevalent on 00,000 acres of forested land in Arizona and New Mexico. Treatment is recommended for 58,500 acres. Much of the remaining 340,000 acres is on private land and federally controlled wilderness areas, neither scheduled for control in 1956. Efforts to obtain financial assistance from private land owners for a cooperative control project in areas in- volving private and Federal ownership have failed. There- fore, control of federally owned lands that are adjacent to untreated private holdings are not contemplated unless economic values threatened are extremely high. Limited areas of high commercial and extensive areas of esthetic values are threaten- ed with epidemic infestations and warrant immediate control action if stand deterioration is to be prevented. Action should be initiated on 58,500 acres of federally-owned land; 30,000 acres on the Kaibab National Forest, 10,000 acres on adjoining forested land on the Grand Canyon National Park, 6,000 acres on Mt. Taylor, Cibola National Forest, and 12,000 acres on the Chuska Unit of the Navajo Indian Re- servation. Black Hills beetle The Black Hills beetle is a primary pest of and always a potential threat to the ponderosa pine in the Southwest. Quick suppression of incipient outbreaks by direct control has succeeded in keeping the infestations in an endemic status. A serious threat to the mature pine stand on the Chuska Unit of the Navajo Indian Reservation was averted by direct control action during 1955 by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Navajo Tribe. Ground surveys indicate that 125 trees on the Chuska Unit and 100 trees in the vicinity of the 195) Tusas Control Project on the Carson National Forest should be treated in 1956 as a mopup procedure. Great Basin tent caterpillar Because of the magnitude of the current infestation of tent caterpillar and the relatively low economic values in- volved, chemical control on a widescale basis is not suggested. Chemical control is deemed practical only in areas heavily used for recreation or where domestic water supplies may be polluted. Control action is proposed on approximately 2,000 acres of roadside strip in the North Rim Area of the Grand mul Six Canyon National Park and Kaibab National Forest. A joint control project is planned between the National Park Service and U. S. Forest Service. Artificial control with DD? is proposed on 1,300 acres on the Navajo Indian Reservation for the preventicn of water pollution in areas heavily used by the Navajo Tribe for residential areas during the summer months. Annual maintenance control is mandatory for such areas if yearly protection is desired, since adjacent untreated infestations are constant sources of reinfestation. Preliminary results of the treatment of tent caterpillar on the Santa Fe National Forest with a polyhedrosis virus show promise. Continuation of the test is planned on the Navajo Indian Reservation. Fall webworm A small infestation of webworm on cottonwoods occurred in Chaco Wash on the Chaco Canyon National Monument in MOSS). A small-scale control project is planned for this area to prevent the spread of this defoliator to parts of the Wash where willows and cottonwoods were planted to assist in erosion control. Miscellaneous defoliating insects A variety of defoliating insects annually damage trees and shrubs in the many national parks and monuments in the Southwest. Annual maintenance control is planned by National Park Service where the insect damage directly affects the scenic or public-use values. 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