Spruce beetle management

Spruce beetles are found wherever there are spruce trees. When the populations start to attack standing healthy trees, spruce beetles can be difficult to detect and manage.

On this page

• Detection
• Strategies
• Tactics
• Spruce beetles on private property

The guidebook Spruce Beetle Management in B.C. includes details on ground detection, prevention, management, hazard rating and risk rating.

• Spruce Beetle Management in B.C. guidebook (PDF, 890KB)

Detection

Selecting an appropriate management strategy for a spruce beetle infestation will depend on proper detection and a number of site-specific factors.

Spruce beetle infestations are usually located first by aerial surveys, then are surveyed on the ground.

Ground surveys

Walkthroughs 

Walkthroughs confirm the previous or suspected identification of beetle and host, collect information to set further survey or management priorities, and estimate population trends.

Probes

Probes provide more detailed information than walkthroughs and may be appropriate for laying out treatment areas. These systematic strip surveys provide more precise estimates of attack levels, beetle trends and residual stand values. 

Hybrid surveys 

Hybrid surveys use aspects of both walkthrough surveys and detailed probing to quickly collect more intensive data than can be collected in a walkthrough only.

Star probes

Star probes can be used to quickly map the extent of beetle infestations for small scale rapid treatment.

Strategies

Choice of management strategies will depend on:

• Size and pattern of the infestation
• Severity of the attack in each of the last three years
• Vigour and survival of the new broods
• Stand hazard
• Integrated resource management issues/constraints
• Existing and future access
• Harvesting operability
• Chief Forester Expectations June, 2020 (PDF, 509KB) 

Tactics

After detection, treatment options may consist of a few general tactics: pest reduction harvesting, salvage harvesting, trap trees, prevention and managing spruce beetle on private property.

Pest reduction harvesting

Pest reduction harvesting maximizes extraction of currently infested spruce trees to reduce the existing population and prevent spread

Salvage harvesting

Salvage harvesting is primarily conducted to recover damaged timber before it loses its economic value

Trap trees

Trap trees are living, large-diameter spruce that are felled to attract spruce beetle, which prefer downed material. Trap trees must be destroyed before the beetles take flight

Prevention 

Restrictions on hauling and storage of infested logs may be necessary

Hazard rating 

Hazard rating considers stand age, host size, stand density, and elevation. Ratings can be used to set priorities for surveys and treatments, and may be used as a tool in preventive management.

High hazard stands have large susceptible spruce. Details of susceptibility and risk rating can be found in the following documents:

• A Susceptibility and Risk Rating System for the Spruce Beetle (PDF, 40KB)
• Spruce Beetle Hazard Rating Documentation (PDF, 455KB)

Stand risk

Stand risk is the probability a stand will be attacked or re-attacked based on proximity and to a spruce beetle infestation. Stands with high hazard and risk values have a high priority for management.

Spruce beetles on private property

The following factsheet provides information on how to manage spruce beetles on private property:

• Guide to Managing Spruce Beetles on Private Property (PDF, 5MB)