Global warming again: "Bark beetles ravaging western US forests"

[Target_For_Exterm]

"MISSOULA, United States (AFP) - The forests of the American West are under siege from bark beetles, miniscule but mighty foes that are ravaging the region's leading trees in record numbers.

Scientists say a warming climate is behind the beetle epidemic which has killed vast swaths of spruces, pines and firs in some of the most picturesque regions of the Rocky Mountains.

Experts say the region has failed in recent years to register the sustained periods of sub-zero temperatures that once dealt a fatal blow to beetle populations.

Although the insects have periodically attacked Western forests, an outbreak affecting multiple tree species simultaneously in a string of states - including Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah and Wyoming - has no parallel."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061208/sc_afp/usenvironmentbeetles_061208131027

I get my firewood from the beetle ravaged trees from the local national forest. The beetles eat just under the bark until the bark falls off, and that kills the trees. The firewood I have has a bunch of larve trails on the barkless surface, but no damage to the rest of the wood.

This is very sad. It would not be a nice world if all our trees die. Also, what will that do to oxygen levels and CO2 levels? Anyone know?

I know deforestation is supposed to be very, very bad for the environment. Soon, the only thing left alive on this planet will be the bugs.

:(

[Democrats_win]

1. Denver paper says it can be stopped if the temp is -32F for a week.

That will kill the Bark Beatles as your article suggests. It's really shocking to see our forests dying like this and it will hurt tourism.

The front page of today's Denver paper: "Katrina of the West." They worry that forest fires will run wild through the dead trees. CO's Democratic senator is discussing the issue including trying to market firewood from the trees. The idea is that this will use the power of free enterprise to cut down the trees because the government's resources can't keep up. Over 4 million dead trees this year, up from 1 million the previous.

Although it is important to address the specific aspects of the problem, they don't seem to be working on the cause: global warming.

[nam78_two]

2. K&R.nt

[Telly Savalas]

3. This article must contain a typo.

According to some Republican guy I saw on TV, there's no such thing as global warming.

[bloom]

4. The current conditions also favor jellyfish. nt

[kestrel91316]

5. All they need to do to solve the problem is allow spraying all

the forests with DDT on a regular basis!!!!!1!!!1111!!1!

DUmmies!!!!!!1!!!!!1111!!!!

[daleo]

6. We have the same problem in Alberta, Canada

The Mountain Pine Beetle, which used to be killed off by a few bracing weeks of -40 degrees, is making it through the winter.

[Bigmack]

7. Came through northern B.C. ...

.. this summer. Millions of dead trees. Fire hazard like a mutha!

What is the West gonna look like after the beetles have had a few more years to work?

[MercutioATC]

8. Aggghhhh! Kill the bark beetles! ...no, wait...DON'T kill the bark beetles...

...no, go ahead and kill them...




Isn't it hell when nature preys on nature?

:eyes:

[tabasco]

9. There was a study at Los Alamos about the Pinyon pines in that area.

Something like 90% of the Pinyon pines were destroyed at Los Alamos, NM.