Insects & Diseases

Bark Beetle Technical Working Group

About this group:  We are a small informal group of entomologists who work with bark beetles; our annual meetings focus on bark beetle management: current bark beetle activity, management strategies & philosophies, and management-related research. View the Statement of Purpose (2002) or more information about this group.

Next Meeting

2011 Meeting: October 4 - 6 in San Diego, CA

   view the draft agenda (last updated July 7, 2011)

Important resources:

• Assessment of the Western Bark Beetle Initiative: A Collaborative Effort Between Forest Service Research & Development and Forest Health Protection
• The effectiveness of vegetation management practices for prevention and control of bark beetle infestations in coniferous forests of western and southern United States. Authors: Fettig, C.J., Klepzig, K.D., Billings, R.F., Munson, A.S., Nebeker, T.E., Negron, J.F., Nowak, J.T.; 2007: Forest Ecology and Management 238, 24-53.   (abstract)
• The Effectiveness of Vegetation Management Practices for Mitigating the Impact of Insects on Forest Ecosystems: A Science Synthesis.   Executive summary
• Assessment and response to bark beetle outbreaks in the Rocky Mountain Area: Report to Congress from Forest Health Protection Washington Office, Forest Service, USDA. 2000. Authors: Samman, S., J. Logan, B. Bentz, J. Chew, M. Downing, T. Eager, K. Gibson, D. Leatherman, L. Livingston, S. Munson, B. Short, W. Sorenson. General Technical Report, RMRS-GTR-62

Important links:

• Forest Insect and Disease Leaflets (FIDLs) -- View a 2006 list of Coleopteran FIDLs present or needed for (many need updating). Thanks to the many people who volunteered to work on updates. Visit the FIDLs website for an updated list of planned FIDLs, guidelines for writing new or revised FIDLs, and contacts for additional information.
• Common Names -- List of Coleoptera species with common names given in Western Forest Insects that are not officially approved by the Entomological Society of America. More information: www.fsl.orst.edu/wfiwc/admin/cnamecom.htm
• National Bark Beetle 5-year Strategy: 1993 Version (1.4 MB) Report of the 1995 Bark Beetle Steering Committee Meeting: Appendix A - Accomplishment of 5-year Strategies
• Western Bark Beetle Report (April 22, 2002)
• Forest Health Protection: Strategic Plan 2003-2007
• USDA Forest Service Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2004-2008

Past Meetings of Bark Beetle Working Groups

       all links are <4 MB unless otherwise noted

• San Diego, CA; Oct 2011.  BBTWG meeting (agenda and meeting notes)
• Rapid City, SD; Oct 2010. BBTWG meeting (agenda and meeting notes)
• Tuscon, AZ; Oct 2009. BBTWG meeting. (agenda and meeting notes)
• South Lake Tahoe, CA; Nov 2008. BBTWG meeting. (agenda and meeting notes)
• Portland, OR; Nov 2007. BBTWG meeting. (2007 meeting announcement) (2007 agenda) (meeting notes)
• Fairmont Hot Springs, MT; Oct 2006. BBTWG meeting. Plans to develop a new "5-year strategic plan" for bark beetle research. (meeting announcement) (agenda) (attendees) (meeting notes) (research priorities pist for FY2007 - .pdf or .doc versions) (FHTET FY2007 proposal request announcement)
• Midway, UT; Oct. 2005. BBTWG Meeting. Bark beetle conditions, STDP projects, review of WBBI projects ('04-'05) and update of '02 Western Bark Beetle Report. Also discussed need to review/renew "5-year plan." (meeting notes) Questions to be addressed: a list of needs identified during the CY2005 BBTWG meeting
• Homer, AK; Oct. 2004. BBTWG Meeting. Another round of WBBI money available. Discussed allocation along with review of '04 projects, conditions, etc. (meeting notes)
• Durango, CO; Nov. 2003. BBTWG Meeting. Along with our regular meeting format--conditions and projects; discussed the Western Bark Beetle Initiative ($700,000 available) and how projects might best address that opportunity. Developed a list of FHP priorities as well as research priorities from the 2002 Western Bark Beetle Report. (meeting notes)
• Reno, NV; Dec. 2002. BBTWG Meeting. Same as previous format--projects and status of conditions. Issued a Statement of Purpose for our august group! In summary, we concluded our purpose is "to provide a means to address issues associated with bark beetle ecology and management." (agenda) (meeting notes)
• Taos, NM - Oct. 2001. BBTWG Meeting. Same format as in past few years--status of bark beetles, completed and proposed projects. (meeting notes)
• Coeur d'Alene, ID - Oct. 2000. BBTWG Meeting. Discussed status of bark beetles and bark beetle-related projects. (meeting notes)
• Reno, NV -  Oct. 1999. Bark Beetle Technical Working Group Meeting (BBTWG). Discussion of conditions, ongoing projects, future of FS Research. (agenda)
• Vail, CO - Sept. 1998. Bark Beetle Technical Working Group Meeting (note name change!). Discussed national bark beetle conditions and upcoming projects. Also discussed our future role as a committee in view of "downgrading" relative to new STDP procedure, as we are no longer reviewing proposed projects.(agenda) (meeting notes)
• Brian Head, UT - Sept. 1997. Bark Beetle Steering Committee Meeting. Discussed recently completed research and '98 proposals. (agenda) (meeting notes)
• Kenai, AK - Sept. 1996. Bark Beetle Steering Committee Meeting. Developed a list of bark beetle "priorities" for continuing research. (agenda)
• State Line, NV - Oct. 1995. Bark Beetle Steering Committee Meeting. Review accomplishments of bark beetle projects relative to 5-year plan. (agenda) (meeting notes - 20.7 MB)  Report to the Chief on Bark Beetle Research (Dec. 1995).
• Whitefish, MT - Oct. 1994. National Bark Beetle Steering Committee Meeting. Project reports and review of 5-year plan. (agenda) (meeting notes - 13.4 MB) (technology development needs)
• Albuquerque, NM - Oct. 1993. National Bark Beetle Steering Committee Meeting. (agenda) (meeting notes)  The following May (1994) issued the "formal" National Bark Beetle 5-Year Strategy: 1993 version.
• Salt Lake City, UT - Feb. 1993. Bark Beetle Working Group Meeting. Discussed implementation of 5-year plan for major bark beetles. (And had retirement party for Gene Amman!)
• Portland, OR - Oct. 1992. Bark Beetle Steering Committee. Recommended technology development projects for 1993. (meeting notes) (funded 1992 research projects) (1993 tech. devel. projects)
• Reno, NV - Dec. 1991. Western Bark Beetle Workshop. Discussed ways to address the 5-year plan.
• Portland, OR - Oct. 1991. Bark Beetle Steering Committee Meeting. Issued a "Western Bark Beetle RD&A Program (5-year plan)" in November, 1991. (meeting notes & agenda) (meeting notes & cover letter)
• San Bernadino, CA - Feb. 1991. Western Bark Beetle Semiochemical Working Group. (meeting notes) (Bark Beetle RD&A Plan) (funded projects)
• Delta, B.C. Canada - Dec. 1990.  Pheromone Workshop hosted by PheroTech. Very similar to our working group meetings. (agenda and attendees)
• Boise, ID - Oct. 1989. Western Bark Beetle Working Group (draft projects) (funding requests)
• Seattle, WA - Feb. 1989.  Bark Beetle Pheromone Working Group (meeting summary)
• Las Vegas, NV - Oct. 1988.  Bark Beetle Pheromone Working Group (meeting summary)
• Boise, ID - Sept. 1988. Bark Beetle Pheromone Working Group - guidelines for funding western bark beetle suppression projects in 1989. (meeting summary)
• Lakewood, CO - Jan. 1988. Western Bark Beetle Semiochemical Workshop - an initial meeting was held to review the use/misuse of bark beetle (mostly MPB) pheromones. (executive summary - 5.9 MB)