How climate change makes trees vulnerable to pests

Beetles no bigger than a grain of rice are destroying conifer forests, and their greatest weapon is invisible.

Tiny beetles, huge damage.

Six: “Bark beetles are tiny little insects. They kill trees by actually releasing these odors, these pheromones that attract other beetles to the tree, and if they’re lucky enough to attract literally hundreds to thousands, they can overcome the tree’s defenses and then they can raise their young under the bark.”

Entomologist Diana Six of the University of Montana says that in the past, bark beetle populations were generally not large enough to do widespread damage.

But warmer temperatures are allowing more beetles to survive the winter. And, the longer growing season gives insects more time to reproduce, so populations are booming.

Read The Climate Connections story by Daisy Simmons - “How climate change makes trees vulnerable to pests.”