Strathrannoch Forest trees attacked by Pine Beauty
The photograph is courtesy of the family of George Dey. George took many forestry photographs in his forestry career and many are now shown on this web site. Check under ‘Groups’ and George Dey Collection.
One of the early forests to suffer significant attack by Pine Beauty moth larvae resulting in the death of an area of Lodgepole pine trees.
The most susceptible areas were Lodgepole pine planted on relatively deep peat where the surface layers had dried out do a depth of at least 150mm. This enabled the pupae to overwinter in the dry insulating peat with a vey high survival rate and hence over two to three years build up catastrophic populations on the tree crop.
It was noticeable that over time also some pupae were infected with fugal diseases and also ravens pin pointed heavily attacked areas to start foraging in the peat for the pupae. It is possible that badgers may have initiated the foraging which was quickly followed up by the ravens.
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Groups: Animal, Insect, Plant and Fungal species in forestry, Forestry Areas, Forestry in Action, George Dey Forestry Collection