Report no. 64-1-22 Not For Publication

5230 AUGUST 1964

APPRAISAL SURVEY OF BARK BEETLE INFESTATIONS ON THE LONG CANE AND EDGEFIELD DISTRICTS NATIONAL FORESTS IN SOUTH CAROLINA

By

W. M. Ciesla, R. F. Bassett, and R. T. Franklin

U. S. Forest Service Asheville, North Carolina

INTRODUCTION

An aerial and ground survey of bark beetle infestations on the Long Cane and Edgefield Districts of the National Forests in South Carolina was made July 27 and August 3 to 6, 1964. The purpose of this survey was to evaluate the status of bark beetle activity, particularly of the southern pine beetle, Dentjroctonus frontalis Zimm., in this area. The aerial survey was conducted byH. L. Lambert, R. F. Bassett, andW. M. Ciesla, Forest Insect and Disease Control Branch. Ground-checks were made by R. F. Bassett and Ken Forester, with L. R. Woike of the Long Cane District, and Roger Pitts of the Edgefield District assisting.

The results of this survey indicate that most of the bark beetle caused mortality was due to infestations of Ips avulsus (Eich.). Some southern pine beetle mortality was found in the vicinity of Parsons Mountain, but no active infestations were found.

SURVEY METHOD

Flight lines were spaced at four mile intervals in an east-west direction for a 25 per cent area coverage (Fig. 1). All red-topped and fading pines within a one-half mile strip on either side of the flight line were sketchmapped. Aerial survey data were corrected according to Aldrich ~ l;tl. ( 1958) to compensate for observer error. LONG CAN£ It. S

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EDGEFIE•• LD NATIONAL FORESTS IN SOUTH CAROLINA L ONG CANE S EDGEFI ELD DISTRICTS

?!~=~:~ ~~:E~~E PINE BEETLE ·::::,,::cf~ IP S BEETLE LARGER ELM LEAF BEETLE

FIG. I STl'l. TUS OF FC' RE ST INSECT ACTI V ITY JU LY 8 .AU GUST 1964 Nineteen single trees and multiple tree spots were ground-checked to determine the causal agent responsible.

RESULTS

Forty spots containing an estimated 323 trees were detected during the aerial survey. Expanded data indicate that an estimated 286 spots containing some 1,678 red-topped and fading pines occur within the area surveyed (Table 1). Spots ranged in size from singles to groups of 40 trees.

Ground-checks indicated that most of the multiple tree spots resulted from infestations by the engraver beetle !, avulsus (Table 2). A number of large ips spots were active around portable sawmills currently operating in this area. Ips infestations were scattered over much of the eastern portions of the two districts (Fig. 1).

Limited southern pine beetle activity was observed in the vicinity of Parsons Mountain (Fig. 1). One single tree and one multiple tree spot of five trees was examined. No active brood was found in any of the trees checked.

A localized infestation of the larger elm leaf beetle, Monocesta coryli Say, a leaf skeletonizer, was detected in the Hardlabor Creek area (Fig. 1). The infestation comprised a gross area of roughly 1,600 acres. All species of Ulmus occurring in the area were damaged, including American elm , y:. americana L., slippery elm, 11.. rubra Mll.hl., and winged elm, 11.- alata Michx.

DISCUSSION

Southern pine beetle activity is apparently continuing at a low level in the Parsons Mountain section of the Long Cane District, where some activity has persisted for the past three years (Ciesla and Franklin, 1963).

!, avulsus activity is presently at a high level and is causing considerable losses over the two districts. Since rapid salvage is the only practical means of control for this insect, this method should be used wherever economically feasible.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Salvage ips infested material where feasible.

2. Another appraisal survey of bark beetle infestations on the Long Cane and Edgefield Districts should be made during April or May 1965 by Forest Insect and Disease Control Branch personnel.

-3- Table I .--Summary of aerial survey data, Long Cane and Edgefield Districts, July-August l '3641/

Infestation Size {Trees) Ownership : Singles : 2 - 5 6 - 20 : 21 - 50 : 50 + Total : : Spots: Trees: Spots: Trees: Spots: Trees: Spots: Trees: Spots : Trees:

Long Cane R. D.

National Forest 71 13 44 15 169 5 98 0 0 104 382 ....I I Private 9 20 53 5 52 0 0 0 0 34 114

Edgefield R. D.

National Forest 36 6 19 15 52 4 200 0 0 61 307

Private 18 44 152 21 215 0 0 4 400 87 785 ------··------Total 134 83 258 56 488 218 4 400 286 1,578 J/ Based on 7 25 per ~e~t area coverage and corrected a~cording to data by Aldrich-fil aL ( 1158) Table 2. --Summary of ground observations, Long Cane and Edgefield Districts, July-August H64

~ Causal Agent Number of Spots Number of Trees Infested Trees Per Examined Infested Multiple Tree Spot Singles : Multiples

Q. frontalis 1 1 6 5 I "'I Q. terebrans 2 0 2

l, avulsus 5 10 267 26 REFERENCES

Aldrich, R. C., R. C. Heller, and W. F. Bailey. 1358. Observation limits for aerial sketchmapping southern pine beetle in the Southern Appalachians. Jour. Forestry 56(3):200-202.

Ciesla, W. M. , and R. T. Franklin. 1963. Detection and evaluation of bark beetle infestations, Long Cane and Edgefield Districts, National Forests in South carolina. U.S.D.A., Forest Service, Div. S&PF, Zone I, FI&DC Office, Asheville, N. C. Rpt. no. Zone 1-3-63.

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