| Silvicultural management of Pinus strobus L. runs the risk of damaging residual trees and can increase the probability of attack from damaging insects, including the common bark beetle Dendroctonus valens Le Conte. Considered a secondary pest, it is possible that D. valens is capable of economic impacts such as the downgrading of logs and lumber due to defect and blue-stain. To assess post harvest conditions that contribute to the probability and severity of D. valens attacks in Pinus strobus, stand and tree characteristics were sampled in four silvicultural treatments and one control site in southern Maine. Results showed that clearcuts were least likely to have attacks. Additionally, increases in residual pine and hardwood basal area reduce the probability of attack, while increases in height and logging damage increase the probability of attack. Increased basal area of Pinus strobus stumps was shown to play the greatest role in severity of attack. |
