Dead Trees along the Park Road

 This summer a number of pinyon pines along the park road turned red quickly. Many people asked what was going on, and the park asked a Forest Service entomologist who specializes in tree pathogens and insects to visit. She examined the trees and found two insects: pitch mast borer and sawfly. Pitch mast borer goes into the bark and the tree reacts by pushing out big balls of sap along the trunk. Sawfly enters via the needles and lays larvae that then cause the needles to fall out. Trees attacked by sawflies typically appear to be very sparse and have lots of red needles under them. Trees don't die from pitch mast borer or sawfly alone, but both of those weaken the trees. The combination of them along with the trees being in a pollution corridor and receiving extra salt in the winter and being in a drought most likely did them.

I took some photos of the dead trees and then after a saw crew from Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park cut them down.

1A Near turnoff to Baker Creek road, before cutting.

 1B. Near turnoff to Baker Creek Road, after cutting.

 2A. Approaching dump station, before cutting.

2B. Approaching dump station, after cutting.

 3A. At dump station turn, before cutting.

3B. At dump station turn, after cutting.

Most of the trees were chipped. The saw chips will cook in the heat of the day and kill the insects in them. The bigger limbs were cut up and will be used for fire wood in the interpretive programs.