A History of the Eastern Larch Beetle, Dendroctonus Simplex (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), in North America

Abstract

The eastern larch beetle, Dendroctonus simplex, is reputedly a secondary pest but may attack and kill tamarack and ornamental larches throughout Canada, the northeastern United States and Alaska. Isolated infestations of this pest have been reported for over 100 years. The first recorded widespread outbreak of D. simplex started in eastern Canada and the northeastern United States as well as Alaska in the mid-1970s. During the outbreak in the Atlantic provinces, in excess of 1.4M cubic meters of tamarack was killed. No damage estimates are available for Quebec and the United States. Insect defoliators were the most common factors predisposing tamarack to beetle attack.