Talking mountain pine beetles with the U of M

For decades, the mountain pine beetle has caused an unprecedented amount of forest mortality in western North America, tearing through pine stands from the Pacific Coast all the way to the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Now, researchers at the Minnesota Invasive Terrestrial Plants and Pests Center (MITPPC) are preparing for the impending arrival of one of the top threats to Minnesota’s trees.

Brian Aukema, PhD, a professor in the Department of Entomology and a researcher at MITPPC, answers questions about the species and why they pose a threat to Minnesota pine forests.