At the 2012 Mountain Pine Beetle workshop, hosted by the Foothills Research Institute, Barry Cooke presented an overview of the past decade's efforts, from the national perspective. Mountain Pine Beetle outbreaks in BC were fuelled by a 'perfect storm' situation, and in 2006 were seen to spread into Alberta. A national risk assessment was completed in 2008, and subsequent monitoring of the spread of the beetles prompted a further risk assessment and data review in 2011.
Infestations spread from lodgepole pine to jack pine, and new research shows that white pine are also suitable hosts. Research has indicated that there are mountain pine beetles present in locations that haven't yet seen devestating massive attacks.
The effects of weather and climate are still being investigated, although a clear link appears to exist between warmer temperatures and beetle outbreaks.
Barry J. Cooke is a research scientists in Spatial Dynamics of Insect Populations with the Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada.
