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Aerial survey shows pine beetles waning, but spruce beetles continue to spread across Colorado fores
http://summitcountyvoice.com/2015/02/07/aerial-survey-shows-pine-beetles-waning-but-spruce-beetles-continue-to-spread-across-colorado-forests/The spruce beetle outbreak was detected on 485,000 acres in 2014, compared to 398,000 acres across the state in 2013, according to the U.S. Forest Service and the Colorado State Forest Service. The annual aerial survey by the two agencies shows that the spruce beetle outbreak expanded to 253,000 new acres.
snip
Statewide, mountain pine beetles were active on 15,000 acres in 2014, compared to 98,000 acres in 2013. Only 3,000 acres of new infestation were detected in 2014, versus 9,000 acres of new infestation in 2013.
Reduced beetle activity in many areas is due to extensive mortality of the larger host trees necessary for beetle populations to maintain epidemic levels.
Reduced beetle activity in many areas is due to extensive mortality of the larger host trees necessary for beetle populations to maintain epidemic levels.
No silver lining here.
