Pine Beetle Still On Move

Sunday, July 23, 2006 12:20 PM

As reported on July 12th, the flight of the pine beetle is underway (that story here), with the beetles expected to be moving out of the city to the north and east. This year’s flight is expected to be the worst the City has experienced.

Many people have never seen a pine beetle; they are small and usually only noticeable when in a group, however, a resident in the Walmart area today reports seeing 47 of the beetles on a single door screen.

After their flight, the beetles bore into new host trees and lay eggs in the bark. The larvae then hatch and feed on the bark. It will be next spring before the needles of attacked trees begin to show the unmistakable reddish colouration.

For those wanting to check around their homes, the mountain pine beetle is black in colour and only about the length of a grain of rice. They live most of their lives under the bark of pine trees, including lodgepole, western white pine, and ponderosa and are usually only seen during their mid-summer flight.

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Posted on Sunday, July 23, 2006 12:20 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Don Mackenzie on July 23 2006 2:41 PM

Go down to Greyhound Depot at night, in the Light by the main door, on the mail boxs( hundreds) last 3 nights,They are all over the Front of Bld.

Posted by: thereasonableman on July 23 2006 3:08 PM

The only way to deal with it is logging. There hasn't been any logging activity for months, the auction is full of logging equipment, and only a few trucks are being seen rolling. I feel the bureaucrats could be doing more about this than letting it stand and cook in the sun.

Posted by: Gofaster on July 23 2006 5:26 PM

Until they get BBQed they will continue to be there....
I won't say I would like to see a forest fire but the fact is that is natures way of dealing with bugs, plight and other nasties....
No I don't have the answer but letting mother nature take care of her own until humanity is threatened might be a good start.

Posted by: Simple Simon on July 23 2006 6:52 PM

Ask Dave Zirnhelt. He oughta know what to do. Or not. Geewhiz! I hope he aint involved in the forestry ministery in Alberta. Wow!

Posted by: Simple Simon on July 23 2006 6:55 PM

Road block on the Hart Bridge, and check fer them pesky beetles. Right away. If we don't know how to do that, better call the "First Nations" people. They oughta know how to do that.

Posted by: thereasonableman on July 23 2006 7:46 PM

If they are about the size of a grain of rice, we should be able to catch them with chopsticks, Glasshoppah.
;-)

Posted by: trusted on July 24 2006 8:11 AM

Guess we are fortunate the damn beetles do not bite.
The "First Nations" people are surely doing research, as this is not a new plight.
I suggest we get Pat Bell on it.
He thinks he is a master solver at everything other than mining, ranching, oil and gas exploration and politics.
Boy, do we know how to pick 'em!
No offence.

Posted by: kimbo on July 24 2006 10:53 AM

Hey Mackenzie, wise up they are looking for a free ride out of town.

Posted by: Simple Simon on July 24 2006 5:56 PM

First Natiions? What kinda research? Who is doing it and who is paying for it. Studying bugs aint the same as "curing the problem". Gimme some money and I'll study the little blighters. Hey,get it? Little blighters! I made that up!

Posted by: Gofaster on July 24 2006 6:12 PM

Maybe if we send them south, Bush will want to ID them all which ought to slow their movement down some...lol