Random thoughts about this fine event.
- The mountain pine beetle “does not read the book” on how it’s supposed to behave.
- Could the dreaded MPB be focusing it’s sights on the lowly spruce and tiny pines? Or munching on scotch pine? And if so does it light it up like a stoplight?
- Rare scotch pine and spruce hits have turned up, at least in Rocky Mountain National Park. The thought is that when the beetles colonize a less attractive tree species it does not fare nearly as well.
- The eastern stands in Rocky may avoid the harsh epidemic of the west due to the diversity of the ponderosa pine over the lodgepole.
- Another theory discussed was the blue stain fungus helps the beetle itself thrive, but may not be the direct culprit in death. Sort of an accessory after the fact.
- Lost trees affect up to 25% of home value, especially for second homes I assume.
