Southern Pine Beetle (SPB) - Dendroctonus frontalis

Figure 1. to the right shows the flight lines over areas in southern NJ that have a pine component. The shaded areas are public lands - State Parks and Forests, Natural Lands and Wildlife Mgt. Areas. The flight lines were flown east-west and west-east surveying approximately 1.3 million acres. The 2003 flight lines (blue) were 4-miles apart in the northern pine component areas and 2-miles apart in the southern areas. This is due to nearly all infestations occurring in the south.

Figure 2.

Figure 2. below shows the actual shapes of 2-years of potential infestation points indicated by the red polygons (2003) and green polygons (2002). There are approximately 2,508 acres (2003) that have been infested by the SPB. This is an increase of 1,238 acres from the previous year. Individual sizes of attack range from 0.10 acres to 305 acres. Ground verification of SPB infestations is an on-going process. Expansion is evidenced by the merging of existing polygons and the generation of new ones. If you would like to become involved in SPB reconnaissance please visit our NJFS Volunteer page.

Figure 2. Figures by the NJFS.