Pine Beetles, Chanticleers & The Weather

[AZGrizFan]

While we are all (except a few stalwart holdouts) in agreement that the mythical Chanitcleer won't fare well in coldweather, a much more important question arises....are there any Forestry experts out there that can answer the question of how long do we need to have sub-zero temps to kill off the pine beetle infestation? Just saw on Fox News weather report that there's a SECOND wave of cold air coming in right behind THIS one and I thought I remembered reading/hearing once that it would take two straight weeks of sub-zero temps to effectively kill the infestation. Wouldn't the elimination of the pine beetle be an awesome ancillary effect of this extended cold front...

 

[Grizzlies1982]

While we are all (except a few stalwart holdouts) in agreement that the mythical Chanitcleer won't fare well in coldweather, a much more important question arises....are there any Forestry experts out there that can answer the question of how long do we need to have sub-zero temps to kill off the pine beetle infestation? Just saw on Fox News weather report that there's a SECOND wave of cold air coming in right behind THIS one and I thought I remembered reading/hearing once that it would take two straight weeks of sub-zero temps to effectively kill the infestation. Wouldn't the elimination of the pine beetle be an awesome ancillary effect of this extended cold front...

Historically, the extreme winter weather has helped impede all sorts of infestations from settling in Montana. Hopefully this puts a dent in the Pine Bark Beetles.

 

[cody45051]

While we are all (except a few stalwart holdouts) in agreement that the mythical Chanitcleer won't fare well in coldweather, a much more important question arises....are there any Forestry experts out there that can answer the question of how long do we need to have sub-zero temps to kill off the pine beetle infestation? Just saw on Fox News weather report that there's a SECOND wave of cold air coming in right behind THIS one and I thought I remembered reading/hearing once that it would take two straight weeks of sub-zero temps to effectively kill the infestation. Wouldn't the elimination of the pine beetle be an awesome ancillary effect of this extended cold front...

Historically, the extreme winter weather has helped impede all sorts of infestations from settling in Montana. Hopefully this puts a dent in the Pine Bark Beetles.

This weather will make no difference for the infestation because they pine beetles already in their hibernation state. The time when the cold makes the difference is either late fall or early spring.

However, not even one good year of cold temps will make much of a difference now. It would take several years of consistently cold temps during the aforesaid time frame to help slow growth.

 

[GrizBacker04]

For what it is worth:

How cold do temperatures need to be to trigger insect mortality?
There is no simple answer to this question. Mountain pine beetles overwinter primarily in their “worm” or “grub” stage (the larvae). During this time, they accumulate alcohols that act as an anti-freeze and provide protection from freezing. The beetles are more susceptible to cold temperatures early in the fall and late spring, when alcohol levels are low, and less susceptible to cold in mid-winter when alcohol levels are highest. Studies show that temperatures from -13 F to -31 F in mid-winter can cause mortality. However, factors such as the stage of development, duration of exposure to cold temperatures, responses to seasonal changes in temperatures, and geographical location will influence potential mortality. So what temperatures, at what time of the year, or for how long will cause extensive insect mortality is not yet well-understood.

 

[reinell30]

Bring back DDT!

 

[BozAngelesGriz]

mountain pine beetle infestations in some areas are past their peak already, mostly because they don't have enough living host trees anymore. even if this cold had an impact on beetle populations it would probably only delay spread and not stop it.

 

[ranco]

For what it is worth:

How cold do temperatures need to be to trigger insect mortality?
There is no simple answer to this question. Mountain pine beetles overwinter primarily in their “worm” or “grub” stage (the larvae). During this time, they accumulate alcohols that act as an anti-freeze and provide protection from freezing. The beetles are more susceptible to cold temperatures early in the fall and late spring, when alcohol levels are low, and less susceptible to cold in mid-winter when alcohol levels are highest. Studies show that temperatures from -13 F to -31 F in mid-winter can cause mortality. However, factors such as the stage of development, duration of exposure to cold temperatures, responses to seasonal changes in temperatures, and geographical location will influence potential mortality. So what temperatures, at what time of the year, or for how long will cause extensive insect mortality is not yet well-understood.

So how much alcohol do I need in my system so I don't freeze my larvae off on saturday?

 

[62GRIZ]

Historically, the extreme winter weather has helped impede all sorts of infestations from settling in Montana.

I will venture a guess that this "extreme winter weather" is going to go far in preventing an infestation of Chanticleers from settling in Montana. And, it will only take three days of exposure - weaker than a bark beetle.

 

[BozAngelesGriz]

For what it is worth:

How cold do temperatures need to be to trigger insect mortality?
There is no simple answer to this question. Mountain pine beetles overwinter primarily in their “worm” or “grub” stage (the larvae). During this time, they accumulate alcohols that act as an anti-freeze and provide protection from freezing. The beetles are more susceptible to cold temperatures early in the fall and late spring, when alcohol levels are low, and less susceptible to cold in mid-winter when alcohol levels are highest. Studies show that temperatures from -13 F to -31 F in mid-winter can cause mortality. However, factors such as the stage of development, duration of exposure to cold temperatures, responses to seasonal changes in temperatures, and geographical location will influence potential mortality. So what temperatures, at what time of the year, or for how long will cause extensive insect mortality is not yet well-understood.

So how much alcohol do I need in my system so I don't freeze my larvae off on saturday?

well played, sir

 

[becker2117]

While we are all (except a few stalwart holdouts) in agreement that the mythical Chanitcleer won't fare well in coldweather, a much more important question arises....are there any Forestry experts out there that can answer the question of how long do we need to have sub-zero temps to kill off the pine beetle infestation? Just saw on Fox News weather report that there's a SECOND wave of cold air coming in right behind THIS one and I thought I remembered reading/hearing once that it would take two straight weeks of sub-zero temps to effectively kill the infestation. Wouldn't the elimination of the pine beetle be an awesome ancillary effect of this extended cold front...

why would you ever want to kill off the pine beetles? haha .....Its never been easier to get a load of firewood thanks to the pine beetle!

 

[cclarkblues]

Hopefully this cold has an effect on the gnats that cause bluetongue etc. It isn't doing much for my golf game.

 

[NorthEndZoneDan]

While we are all (except a few stalwart holdouts) in agreement that the mythical Chanitcleer won't fare well in coldweather, a much more important question arises....are there any Forestry experts out there that can answer the question of how long do we need to have sub-zero temps to kill off the pine beetle infestation? Just saw on Fox News weather report that there's a SECOND wave of cold air coming in right behind THIS one and I thought I remembered reading/hearing once that it would take two straight weeks of sub-zero temps to effectively kill the infestation. Wouldn't the elimination of the pine beetle be an awesome ancillary effect of this extended cold front...

Historically, the extreme winter weather has helped impede all sorts of infestations from settling in Montana. Hopefully this puts a dent in the Pine Bark Beetles.

30 years ago we used to say the cold snaps would drive out the Californians that didn't work so well :lol:

 

[Hammer]

While we are all (except a few stalwart holdouts) in agreement that the mythical Chanitcleer won't fare well in coldweather, a much more important question arises....are there any Forestry experts out there that can answer the question of how long do we need to have sub-zero temps to kill off the pine beetle infestation? Just saw on Fox News weather report that there's a SECOND wave of cold air coming in right behind THIS one and I thought I remembered reading/hearing once that it would take two straight weeks of sub-zero temps to effectively kill the infestation. Wouldn't the elimination of the pine beetle be an awesome ancillary effect of this extended cold front...

Historically, the extreme winter weather has helped impede all sorts of infestations from settling in Montana. Hopefully this puts a dent in the Pine Bark Beetles.

30 years ago we used to say the cold snaps would drive out the Californians that didn't work so well :lol:

No shit!! :thumb: