-581- 
Puring 1940 the losses caused by the western pine "beetle ( Dendroctonus 
brevicomis Lee.) in Oregon and Washington continued on an -upward trend, from th 
low point reached in 1937 • l 1 * 1 © tentative 194-0 loss figure for the ponderosa 
pine stands in the two States has "been set at 520 million "board feet, as com- 
pared with 470 million in 1939 and JSO million in 1937* In certain areas in 
Oregon these losses assumed epidemic proportions and necessitated direct con- 
trol measures. Control projects were approved and were started on the Fremont 
and Malheur National Forests. On the Deschutes National Forest, the Warm 
Springs Indian Reservation, and certain private lands in southern Oregon 
maintenance control work was again undertaken. (F. P. Keen, Bureau of Ento- 
mology and Plant Quarantine, U. S. D. A. ) 
During 1940 heavy infestations of ponderosa pine stands were local, 
rather than general, throughout California. In the northeastern part of the 
State group kills continued, through the summer, but overwintering broods in 
most arers will be found, chiefly as single tree infestations in which large 
trees are involved. Notwithstanding the lack of spectacular epidemic infesta- 
tion, fall surveys show that most of the current loss, which amounts to be- 
tween 75 end 100 board feet per acre in northern California, remains heavy and 
averages about the same as in 1939* In the stands in the coast and. Sierra 
ranges the loss is considerably less; however, in central and southern Cali- 
fornia endemic infestations are of sufficient importance to necessitate main- 
tenance control projects in valuable recreational centers. (J, M. Miller, 
Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, U. S # D. A.) 
DOUGLAS FIR BEETLE 
The widespread outbreak: of the Douglas fir beetle ( Dendroctonus pseudo- 
tsuga.e Hopk.) continues without any noticeable abatement throughout the north- 
ern Rocky Mountain region. This infestation is so extensive that control is 
prohibitive', aside from areas whore timber stands have a high commercial or 
aesthetic value. (J. C, Evenden, Bureau of Entomology and. Plant Quarantine, 
U. S. D. A.) 
Only three minor outbreak's of the Douglas fir beetle ( Dendroctonus pseudo- 
t suga.e Hopk.) in Oregon and. Washington were reported in 1940* Two of these 
outbreaks were in Oregon in fire-scorched trees adjacent to recent burns, and 
one outbreak was in Mount Rainier National Park, Wash, In the Rocky Mountain 
region the Douglas fir beetle continued to cause widespread destruction of 
Douglas fir. Losses caused by this insect continued, at a. high level in the 
forests of Wyoming, Colorad.o, and Utah. At the end of the year there were no 
marked signs indicating a subsidence of the current infestation. (F. P. Keen, 
Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, U. S. D. A.) 
BLACK HILLS BEETLE 
Infestation by the Black Hills beetle ( Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopk.) in 
the pine stands of Colorado and southern Wyoming continued to show a narked 
decroaso from the epidemic conditions of recent years. This decrease first 
became evident in 1939 following an intensive control program on private, 
State, and Federal lands. At present the infestation has been so reduced that 
only a few small clean-up projects are necessary during the 1940-4l season. 
