Bark beetles

Bark beetles are a natural disturbance agent in B.C. forests that can cause widespread mortality to mature forests during outbreaks. 

Bark beetles are small, cylindrical insects that can attack and kill trees by boring through the bark and mining the phloem (the layer between the bark and wood) of a tree.

On this page

• Major bark beetle species in B.C.
• Provincial bark beetle response
• Actions of the bark beetle response
• Bark beetle strategy
• Bark beetle management unit designations
• Bark beetle hub and portal

Major bark beetle species in B.C.

There are many species of bark beetles in B.C. and they all differ in biology and behaviour. Only four of these species pose significant forest health concerns and have management regimes developed for them: mountain pine beetle, spruce beetle, Douglas-fir beetle and western balsam bark beetle.

Mountain pine beetle

Mountain pine beetle attack most pine species in B.C., preferring lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine, whitebark pine, and white pine trees. Mountain pine beetles predominantly have a one-year life cycle with adults emerging in July and August to attack new trees. Learn more about the Mountain pine beetle.

Spruce beetle

Spruce beetle attack spruce species in B.C., preferring Englemann spruce, white spruce and Sitka spruce trees. Spruce beetle predominantly have a two-year life cycle but may also have a one-year life cycle under ideal conditions. Adults emerge in late May to July to attack new trees. Learn more about the Spruce beetle.

Douglas-fir beetle

​Douglas-Fir beetle attack primarily Douglas-fir trees. These beetles have a one-year life cycle with adults  emerging from April through June to attack new trees. Learn more about the ​Douglas-fir beetle.

Western balsam bark beetle

Western balsam bark beetle attack mature true firs, particularly subalpine fir. These beetles have a two-year life cycle. Adult beetles emerge between mid-June to mid-August and fly to attack new trees. Learn more about the Western balsam bark beetle.

Provincial bark beetle response

Recent changes to climate and weather patterns have resulted in conditions that allow for bark beetle populations to increase beyond the historical range and severity. High overwintering survival, in combination with warmer summer and fall minimum temperatures, can allow insects more time to grow and develop. These conditions may result in multiple robust bark beetle populations throughout the province.

Bark beetles are a high priority issue for forest health management in British Columbia. The Province conducts an annual Aerial Overview Survey (AOS) to detect the extent and severity of forest health factors. The AOS summary report tracks the areas and severity of bark beetle damage each year. The provincial bark beetle response is based on a science-based conceptual strategy.

• What does the science say? (PDF, 9.2MB)
• Aerial Overview Surveys
• Aerial Overview Survey summary reports

Actions of the bark beetle response

To advance the conceptual strategy, the province’s response to bark beetles in B.C. includes the following:

• A science-based approach to pest management in forest ecosystems
• Consistent, updated tools and resources for mitigation measures
• Collaborative and effective local planning and implementation of mitigation measures and investments
• Innovative and collaborative research to improve provincial response and to address information gaps

The goals of the Ministry’s response to bark beetles are founded in B.C.’s forest policy and include:

• Reconciliation with First Nations
• To maintain or enhance forest ecosystem function and diversity
• To ensure a sustainable and diverse forest industry
• To invest in ecosystem function and diversity to enhance resilience in second growth stands
• Open and transparent communication of issues, ideas, and solutions for future forest health in B.C.

Bark beetle strategy

An on-the-ground provincial bark beetle response is guided by 3-year operational bark beetle strategies. These strategies provide bark beetle management guidance for the provincial forest health program including management goals and objectives for the major bark beetles: mountain pine beetle, spruce beetle, Douglas-fir beetle, and western balsam bark beetle. The strategies are dedicated to applying the lessons learned from previous outbreaks, solidifying and expanding tools and tactics for bark beetle management, and anticipating and preparing for future outbreaks.

• Bark Beetle Strategy 2024-2027 (PDF, 1.6MB)

Bark beetle management unit designations

There are 5 main bark beetle management designations used in B.C. to minimize the impact of these beetles. These designations are tied to specific areas (known as beetle management units boundaries, BMUs) and based on how much infestation is present and how many susceptible trees are in the area . Response can range from "proactive'  to "no-action". Read more about bark beetle management unit designations.

Bark Beetle Hub and Portal

This is the future home of a user-friendly online GIS-based “one-stop shop” for bark beetle data storage, analysis, and visualization. The hub landing page will collate and store bark beetle data collected from government monitoring protocols. In addition, as remote sensing tools and predictive models are developed, they will be made available on the hub landing page.

The hub will include links to mobile device applications that have been developed to support bark beetle ground and helicopter surveys. Finally, the hub hosts “portals” to local, customized bark beetle information by region. The goal is to compile and share information and data about the forested landbase and to provide information for, and support, management and planning activities. Learn more about the Bark Beetle Hub and Portal (PDF, 455KB)