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CITY OF ASHLAND Beetles taking toll on Ashland pines Drought stresses trees, making it easier for variety of bugs to worm way into trunks Comment By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Mar. 19, 2015 at 5:54 PM Updated Mar 19, 2015 at 5:55 PM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Mar. 19, 2015 at 5:54 PM Updated Mar 19, 2015 at 5:55 PM What do you think? --> Have an opinion on this story? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter  » Read more X What do you think? Have an opinion on this story? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter   » Social News It wasn't a pretty moment for Jeff McFarland, city forestry and trails supervisor, when he had to oversee the toppling of a “much loved,” 100-foot tall — but beetle-infested — Ponderosa pine at the Oredson-Todd Woods trailhead south of Ashland. Measuring 38.5 inches in diameter at breast height, the once-stately gem of the forest got weakened by drought and was brown from crown to half-way down. With it, in recent weeks, went five pines at Mountain View Cemetery, four at the nearby IOOF Cemetery (both near the new fire station No. 2 on Ashland Street) and 40 above Lithia Park, says Stu Wilkie, city maintenance and safety supervisor for Public Works. “These were mature trees, not small at all,” said Wilkie. “Anytime you take out big trees, you leave a big impact on the surrounding esthetics. We’ll replant it, though, with cedar or broadleaf maple.” Since the big drought slammed down its calling card in the winter of 2013-14 and the following summer, notes McFarland, the town’s pines have been under attack by four types of beetles: the Ips Beetle (kills from top down), the Turpentine Beetle (kills from the ground up to 8 inches), the Western Pine Beetle (attacks the main trunk) and the Mountain Pine Beetle. The Western Pine Beetle is certain death, McFarland says, while the others may spare some trees that they infest. “The beetles detect which trees are stressed, then they bore under the bark,” he says. “They release phermones that shout 'I made it in; come and get it!' When their job is done and larvae are hatched and tunneling, they release another phermone that says, 'The inn is full; don’t come here anymore.'" The young larvae start “chewing around” and create galleries, a latticework of tiny tunnels that essentially girdle the tree. When the tree gets past 15 percent dead, they take it out. If a tree looks like it can survive, they give it a chance, but a tree weakened by one beetle leaves it open to easy assault by the other types.  Hiking through the woods, Prof. Steve Schein, a neighbor to the infested zone of Oredson-Todd, says all the neighbors pitch in with the city, U.S. Forest Service and Lomakatsi Restoration Project to try to preserve the forest.  “We’re trying to preserve a poly-culture out here. Some species need to be thinned so they have enough water, sun and wind to survive.”  The beetle isn’t all bad and Schein adds that “beetle activity helps us thin and lessens fire danger, so we like to take the ones they've killed.”  McFarland emphasizes the city seeks to be a good steward of public lands, so it’s very difficult to see a lot of nice pines taken out by the beetle.  “This tree was much loved by hikers on White Rabbit and the neighbors around here. It accelerates real suddenly, the browning,” he says. “We’re seeing a lot of nice pines get taken out by the beetle now, what with the drought.”  The Parks Department gets asked why they don't fight back against the beetle but, he notes, they’ve had a no-chemical policy for years now. They will use organic compounds. John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected].   By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Mar. 19, 2015 at 5:54 PM Updated Mar 19, 2015 at 5:55 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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