1. Mountain Pine Beetle
Briefing

2. Mountain Pine Beetle
Mountain pine beetle taking
flight. They are not good flyers
and will normally only fly a
short distance. However, they
can be carried for hundreds of
miles on wind currents.!
Photo compliments of Josh Birnbaum/National Association of State Foresters

3. History of MPB in the Black Hills
Deadwood was established in 1876 during the Black Hills gold rush. In 1875, a miner named John B.
Pearson found gold in a narrow canyon in the Northern Black Hills. This canyon became known as
"Deadwood Gulch," because of the many dead trees that lined the canyon walls at the time.
Mountain pine beetles are native to the Black Hills. Since recorded
history, there have been periodic outbreaks (epidemics) on about
a twenty year cycle and each outbreak lasted from 10 – 14 years.

4. Killed Trees
18
9
18 4
9
19 7
0
19 0
0
19 3
0
19 6
0
19 9
1
19 2
1
19 5
1
19 8
2
19 1
2
19 4
2
19 7
3
1st epidemic 1894-1909
19 0
3
19 3
3
1933-1942
19 6
2nd epidemic
3
19 9
4
19 2
4
19 5
4
19 8
5
Year
19 1
5
19 4
5
1945-1957
3rd epidemic
19 7
6
Black Hills 1894-2001
19 0
6
19 3
6
19 6
6
19 9
7
19 2
7
19 5
7
19 8
8
19 1
8
1963-1981
Schematic history of mountain pine beetle activity:
4th epidemic
19 4
8
19 7
9
19 0
9
19 3
9
Current
19 6
epidemic
(ongoing)
99

5. The current epidemic is
the largest in recorded
history and has
impacted – to date –
over 400,000 acres
(one quarter) of forest
land in the Black Hills.
This picture of the Black Elk
Wilderness is only one of many in
the central area of the Hills that
look like this!
Photo compliments of Josh Birnbaum/National Association of State Foresters

6. Latest MPB
Digital Mapping
(Summer of 2011)
This map was generated
from digital photos taken
by the Black Hills
National Forest.
These photos were
analyzed by State GIS
professionals to map the
mountain pine beetle
infestations.
Red areas are MPB infestations.
Light Blue areas are private lands
within the Black Hills.

7. MPB Aerial Survey Numbers
Acres of Infested Trees
Number of acres with
MPB by year. 200000
1996 – 1,755 acres 180000
1997 - 6.930 acres
1998 – 13,460 acres 160000
1999 – 19,160 acres 140000
2000 – 13,546 acres
Number of Acres
2001 – 102,218 acres 120000
2002 – 103,246 acres 100000
2003 – 189,655 acres
2004 - 57,843 acres* 80000
2005 – 19,464 acres** 60000
2006 - 40,022 acres
40000
2007 - 25,387 acres
2008 - 25,163 acres 20000
2009 - 22,424 acres
0
2010 - 44,100 acres
2011 - 66,111 acres
Year
* Survey conducted 6 weeks early .
** USFS changed survey design.

8. Accomplishments
2012 - To Date
For landowners and treatments that were processed through the
state database and payment system:
Survey & Marking – 111,243 acres completed
1,650 landowners served
184,873 infested trees marked
Treatments Completed – 23,014 acres completed
(Reimbursement Payments) 345 landowners served
56,563 infested trees treated
Emergency Funds - 345 landowner claims
$459,642 reimbursements paid
$1,000,000 outstanding payments

10. Treatments for MPB

11. Most beetles fly less than 300 feet to find a new host as long as suitable host
material is available so attacks often appear as slowly enlarging pockets that
coalesce
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4

12. Direct controls are measures that directly kill
the beetles rather than change the
environment
Direct controls include:
Cutting and chunking
Chipping
Spraying

13. Cutting and chunking works by drying
out the wood and killing a significant
majority of the beetles before they
become adults and emerge.
Chipping the wood is also effective. In
addition to drying the wood faster, it
also kills the beetles by mechanical
damage.