1. Dendroctonus ponderosae
Mountain Pine Beetle
Dendroctonus ponderosae

2. Background Information on the Mountain Pine Beetle
Species of bark beetle
Native to forests on the west coast of North America from Mexico to central British Columbia
About 5 millimetres long
Black, plain colouring

3. The Problem
Infests most pines including the Ponderosa, Limber, Scots and Lodgepole
Attacks trees under stress
Symbiotic relationship with blue-stained fungus - prevents tree from defending itself
Two reasons the population is exploding: ] Warmer winter temperatures ] Better forest fire control

4. How? Female beetle licks trees until it finds one old enough
Releases pheromones to call male beetles to the site
Trees release toxic resin
Blue-stained fungus stops spread of resin
Phloem layer of tree damaged enough to cut off flow of water and nutrients
Tree starves to death in about two weeks

5. Because the tree does not get its water or nutrients, the needles turn red.

6. This makes it very easy to tell which areas have been effected by the beetles, especially with an aerial view.

9. The Threat East over the Rocky Mountains, into Alberta Further north
Boreal forest – accounts for about one third of the world’s woodland
Across the nation

10. The Solution Other Possibilities
Controlled forest fires
More logging
Burning dead trees
Other Possibilities
Fake pheromones
Breaks in trees
Anti-fungal
Natural Predators
Vary the species

11. MAPS

14. Mountain Pine Beetle Simulation Game
(Woohoo)

15. Trial #1 Second person in each row rolls a die 1, 2 pass to your right
3, 4 keep it
5, 6 pass to your left

16. Trial #2 Second person in each row rolls a die
1, 2, 3 pass to your right
4, 5 keep it
6 pass to your left

17. Trial #3 Second person in each row rolls a die
1, 2, 3 pass to your right
4, 5 keep it
6 pass to your left
Fourth person in each row has a second die. If they get the first die and roll a1, 2, or 3, they roll the second die. If that die is a 6, they pass it on. If it’s not, they keep it.

18. Trial #4
Same thing as #3, but this time at the end, each row that has their die at the last person gets candy!