Prescribed Fire and Insects and Diseases

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Prescribed Fire
and
Insects and Diseases
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Bill Carothers USDA Forest Service Forest Health
Protection Asheville, NC
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Part I INSECTS AND DISEASES AND THEIR POTENTIAL
IMPACT ON PRESCRIBED FIRE
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Part II POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF PRESCRIBED FIRE ON
INSECTS AND DISEASES
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Part III SNAGS/ HAZARD TREES
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INSECTS AND DISEASES AND POTENTIAL IMPACTS ON
PRESCRIBED FIRE
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Insects

• Gypsy Moth and other defoliators
• Southern Pine Beetle
• Ips and Black Turpentine Beetles

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Gypsy moth and other defoliators
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Repeated defoliation can lead to dieback and
mortality over large areas.
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• Gypsy moth host species
• Oaks (preferred)
• Alder
• Aspen
• Hawthorne
• Willow
• Beech
• Birch
• Hornbeam
• Maple
• Sassafras
• Others

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Evergreens, while not favored, are susceptible to
gypsy moth defoliation (especially under high
caterpillar population conditions). Cedar,
hemlock, pine, and spruce are attacked, sometimes
resulting in tree mortality.
Resistant species include ash, tulip poplar,
walnut, locust, dogwood, holly, and sycamore.
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Percent Land Area Above 50 in Preferred Host Type
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Gypsy moth defoliation 1975-2002
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Projected Gypsy Moth Spread Without and With STS
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GYPSY MOTH IMPLICATIONS FOR PRESCRIBED FIRE
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GYPSY MOTH IMPLICATIONS

• In defoliated areas, available fuels will be
  drier

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GYPSY MOTH IMPLICATIONS

• In defoliated areas, available fuels will be
  drier
• Less available fine fuel to carry fire (leaf
  litter)

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GYPSY MOTH IMPLICATIONS

• In defoliated areas, available fuels will be
  drier
• Less available fine fuel to carry fire (leaf
  litter)
• Concentrated and heavy fuel loadings

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GYPSY MOTH IMPLICATIONS

• In defoliated areas, available fuels will be
  drier
• Less available fine fuel to carry fire (leaf
  litter)
• Concentrated and heavy fuel loadings
• Snags/hazard trees and impacts on control lines
  and personnel

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GYPSY MOTH IMPLICATIONS

• In defoliated areas, available fuels will be
  drier
• Less available fine fuel to carry fire (leaf
  litter)
• Concentrated and heavy fuel loadings
• Snags/hazard trees and impacts on control lines
  and personnel
• Mop-up considerations

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Southern pine beetle
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Southern Pine Beetle Damage in the Southern
Appalachians
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Number of Years Out of Three Decades Counties
Have Been in Southern Pine Beetle Outbreak Status
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Southern pine beetle prefers southern yellow
pines, especially loblolly, shortleaf, pitch,
virginia, and table mountain pines


Table mountain pine
Loblolly pine
Pitch pine
Shortleaf pine
Virginia pine
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but eastern white pine, Norway spruce, and red
spruce are also susceptible, especially under
outbreak conditions.
Eastern white pine
Norway spruce
Red spruce
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Forest Types Most Susceptible to Southern Pine
Beetle Attack in the Southeastern United States
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Southern pine beetle is almost always in outbreak
status somewhere in the South. In recent years,
heaviest loses have been in the Appalachians,
Alabama, and the Piedmont.
2000
2001
2002
2003
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SPB IMPLICATIONS
1.Initial abundance of light, dry, and potential
ladder fuels.
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SPB IMPLICATIONS
1.Initial abundance of light, dry, and potential
ladder fuels.
2. Flammability of pitch tubes.
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SPB IMPLICATIONS
1.Initial abundance of light, dry, and potential
ladder fuels. 2. Flammability of pitch tubes.
3. Concentration of 10 hour fuels as limbs and
bark begin to fall
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SPB IMPLICATIONS
1.Initial abundance of light, dry, and potential
ladder fuels. 2. Flammability of pitch tubes. 3.
Concentration of 10-hour fuels as fine limbs and
bark begin to fall
4. Concentration of heavy fuels and jackstrawing.
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SPB IMPLICATIONS
1.Initial abundance of light, dry, and potential
ladder fuels. 2. Flammability of pitch tubes. 3.
Concentration of 10-hour fuels as fine limbs and
bark begin to fall 4. Concentration of heavy
fuels and jackstrawing.
5. Mop-up considerations
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SPB IMPLICATIONS
1.Initial abundance of light, dry, and potential
ladder fuels. 2. Flammability of pitch tubes. 3.
Concentration of 10-hour fuels as fine limbs and
bark begin to fall 4. Concentration of heavy
fuels and jackstrawing. 5. Mop-up considerations
6. Snags/hazard trees and impact on control lines
and personnel.
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Ips beetles and black turpentine beetles
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Ips and turpentine beetles usually attack
individual trees or small groups of trees
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Ips and Black Turpentine Beetles IMPLICATIONS
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Ips and Black Turpentine Beetles IMPLICATIONS
1.Initial abundance of light, dry, and potential
ladder fuels.
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Ips and Black Turpentine Beetles IMPLICATIONS
1.Initial abundance of light, dry, and potential
ladder fuels. 2. Flammability of pitch tubes.
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Ips and Black Turpentine Beetles IMPLICATIONS
1.Initial abundance of light, dry, and potential
ladder fuels. 2. Flammability of pitch tubes. 3.
Concentration of 10 hour fuels as limbs and bark
begin to fall
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Ips and Black Turpentine Beetles IMPLICATIONS
1.Initial abundance of light, dry, and potential
ladder fuels. 2. Flammability of pitch tubes. 3.
Concentration of 10-hour fuels as fine limbs and
bark begin to fall 4. Concentration of heavy
fuels and jackstrawing.
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Ips and Black Turpentine Beetles IMPLICATIONS
1.Initial abundance of light, dry, and potential
ladder fuels. 2. Flammability of pitch tubes. 3.
Concentration of 10-hour fuels as limbs and bark
begin to fall 4. Concentration of heavy fuels and
jackstrawing. 5. Mop-up considerations
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Ips and Black Turpentine Beetles IMPLICATIONS
1.Initial abundance of light, dry, and potential
ladder fuels. 2. Flammability of pitch tubes. 3.
Concentration of 10-hour fuels as fine limbs and
bark begin to fall 4. Concentration of heavy
fuels and jackstrawing. 5. Mop-up
considerations 6. Snags/hazard trees and impact
on control lines and personnel
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Another Hazard to Personnel Stinging Insects
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Venomous Snakes vs. Venomous Insects

• Each year in the U.S., about 7,000 people are
  bitten by venomous snakes. Only 14 die.

• In contrast, at least 40 people die every year
  from anaphylactic shock resulting from bee, wasp,
  and hornet stings.

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Stinging and venomous insects are always a
concern when working around fire. Smoke and
flames can incite them. Bald-faced hornets like
to nest in trees.
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Ground-dwelling yellow jackets sometimes attack
en masse without warning.
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Diseases

• Oak Decline
• Root Rots
• Butt Rots

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Oak Decline
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Oak Decline Susceptible Forest Types
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Oak Decline

• Poor sites, defoliation by native or non-native
  insects, root disease, borers, and drought play
  key roles in the progress of this disease.

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Oak Decline

• Poor sites, old trees, defoliation by native or
  non-native insects, root disease, borers, and
  drought play key roles in the progress of this
  disease.

• Can affect single trees to groups of trees

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Oak Decline

• Poor sites, old trees, defoliation by native or
  non-native insects, root disease, borers, and
  drought play key roles in the progress of this
  disease

• Can affect single trees to groups of trees

• Causes gradual to rapid death of the crown and
  trees

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Oak Decline IMPLICATIONS
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Oak Decline IMPLICATIONS

• Initial abundance of light fuels

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Oak Decline IMPLICATIONS

• Initial abundance of light fuels
• Later concentration of heavy fuels

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Oak Decline IMPLICATIONS

• Initial abundance of 10-hour fuels
• Later concentration of heavy fuels
• Snags/hazard trees and impact on control lines
  and personnel

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Oak Decline IMPLICATIONS

• Initial abundance of light fuels
• Later concentration of heavy fuels
• Snags/hazard trees and impact on control lines
  and personnel
• Mop-up considerations

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Root Rots
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Butt Rots
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ROOT AND BUTT ROTS

• Affect overall health of the tree (pines and
  hardwoods)

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ROOT AND BUTT ROTS

• Affect overall health of the tree (pines and
  hardwoods)
• Can eventually lead to mortality of single trees
  or groups of trees

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ROOT AND BUTT ROTS

• Affect overall health of the tree (pines and
  hardwoods)
• Can eventually lead to mortality of single trees
  or groups of trees
• Can predispose tree to windthrow (root rots)

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ROOT AND BUTT ROTS

• Affect overall health of the tree (pines and
  hardwoods)
• Can eventually lead to mortality of single trees
  or groups of trees
• Can predispose tree to windthrow (root rots)
• Can predispose tree to breakage (butt rots)

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ROOT AND BUTT ROTS

• Affect overall health of the tree (pines and
  hardwoods)
• Can eventually lead to mortality of single trees
  or groups of trees
• Can predispose tree to windthrow (root rots)
• Can predispose tree to breakage (butt rots)
• To the untrained eye may be difficult to spot

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ROOT AND BUTT ROTS

• Affect overall health of the tree (pines and
  hardwoods)
• Can eventually lead to mortality of single trees
  or groups of trees
• Can predispose tree to windthrow (root rots)
• Can predispose tree to breakage (butt rots)
• To the untrained eye may be difficult to spot
• Provide for fire chimneys (butt rots)

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ROOT AND BUTT ROTS IMPLICATIONS

• Concentration of light and heavy fuels

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ROOT AND BUTT ROTS IMPLICATIONS

• Concentration of light and/or heavy fuels
• Windthrows and jackstrawing

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ROOT AND BUTT ROTS IMPLICATIONS

• Concentration of heavy fuels
• Windthrows and jackstrawing
• Snags/hazard trees and impacts on control lines
  and personnel

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ROOT AND BUTT ROTS IMPLICATIONS

• Concentration of heavy fuels
• Windthrows and jackstrawing
• Snags/hazard trees and impacts on control lines
  and personnel
• Mop-up considerations

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POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF PRESCRIBED FIRE ON INSECTS
AND DISEASES
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There are probably few, if any, direct,
economically significant impacts of prescribed
fire on insects
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Prescribed fire can kill some insect species that
pupate in the litter or near the surface of the
soil
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A number of wood-boring insects exploit trees
weakened by fire.
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Southern pine beetle, black turpentine beetle,
and Ips beetles can all exploit trees weakened by
fire.
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Prescribed fires do not control diseases except
for brown spot of longleaf pine.
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Fire may damage trees which can result in butt
and root rots, or make the trees attractive to
insects.
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Spores and other inoculum can be spread through
the air, or on boots, equipment, etc.
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Snag/Hazard Trees
Snag/hazard trees are dangerous, even in non-fire
situations. The additional stress on structural
integrity caused by fire makes them especially
hazardous.
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Snags and falling trees can kill!
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Hard hat of a Forest Service firefighter struck
by a snag. Although badly hurt with spinal and
facial injuries, the firefighter survived.
Although this happened on a wildland fire, the
same risks are present on prescribed burns.
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Examples of dangerous dead trees and fallen snags
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The extent of butt rot and other decay is often
difficult to detect from the outside.
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Fruiting bodies (conks) indicate the presence
of internal decay, but they may not be present.
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Snags/hazard trees can fall against, and uproot,
other trees
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As keepers of the flame, you have a
responsibility to consider what impacts your
actions could have, before you let the
genie out of the bottle.
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HANDOUTS
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Questions?
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Questions?