Bark beetle and woodborer responses to stand thinning and prescribed fire in northeastern US coastal and inland pitch pine barrens

Abstract

Abstract Southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis, has expanded its range further into the northeastern United States. This expansion threatens rare and ecologically valuable interior and coastal pitch pine barrens. Pitch pine barrens restoration and southern pine beetle infestation suppression often involve leaving downed dead wood that saproxylic insects can exploit. Semiochemical‐baited traps were used to investigate the response of bark beetles and woodborers to restoration treatments at Rocky Point State Forest and the Albany Pine Bush Preserve, examples of coastal and interior pitch pine forests, respectively. A total of 29,598 saproxylic insects from 116 species of bark beetles and woodborers were captured at Rocky Point State Forest, while 23,117 individuals from 67 species were captured at Albany Pine Bush Preserve. Ips spp. were abundant at both sites with 28%–47% and 42%–74% of total collections at Rocky Point State Forest and Albany Pine Bush Preserve, respectively. Ips grandicollis did not respond to treatments at either site. However, Ips pini was found in higher numbers in thinned blocks in Rocky Point State Forest.