File:1930. Peeling ponderosa pine bark to control western pine beetle. Blacks Mtn. Lassen National Forest, California. (32915740773).jpg

Peeling ponderosa pine bark in preparation for burning to control western pine beetle (Dendroctonus brevicomis). This is the second operation in treating an infested tree. The infested bark is peeled off and piled along the sides of the felled tree. Limbs are also trimmed and piled. Blacks Mountain. Lassen National Forest, California.

Photo by: J.E. Patterson Date: November 8, 1930

Credit: USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, State and Private Forestry, Forest Health Protection. Collection: Bureau of Entomology Collection; La Grande, Oregon. Image: BUR-8658

To learn more about this photo collection see: Wickman, B.E., Torgersen, T.R. and Furniss, M.M. 2002. Photographic images and history of forest insect investigations on the Pacific Slope, 1903-1953. Part 2. Oregon and Washington. American Entomologist, 48(3), p. 178-185.

Note: A hand-colored version of this photo was included in a photo album called Barkbeetle Enemies of California Forests. February 1935. Prepared by the USDA Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine in cooperation with the State Emergency Relief Administration - Project 3F-2-302 and the Emergency Educational Program. Berkeley, California.

Wickman's account of these hand-colored photo albums: "The drought-related stress to trees on million of acres of ponderosa pine forests in the inland West caused dramatic levels of tree mortality that could not be ignored by politicians. Miller, Keen, and Patterson also played a clever propaganda game to procure appropriations to increase the research efforts on the western pine beetle. During the depression, government agencies provided some level of support for artists, cartographers, and draftsmen as a “make work” program. These artisans were eagerly employed by Miller at bargain prices to produce hand-colored photo albums showing the extent of the tree mortality caused by bark beetles, what was being done, and what was needed in the form of research programs to curb this wasteful tree loss. Miller got the message across by supplying these albums to trade associations, chambers of commerce, politicians, and universities." From: Wickman, Boyd E. 2005. Harry E. Burke and John M. Miller, pioneers in Western forest entomology. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-638. Portland, OR: USDA, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. p. 126. <a href="https://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/publications/pnw_gtr638/" rel="nofollow">www.fs.fed.us/pnw/publications/pnw_gtr638/</a>

For additional historical forest entomology photos, stories, and resources see the Western Forest Insect Work Conference site: <a href="http://wfiwc.org/content/history-and-resources" rel="nofollow">wfiwc.org/content/history-and-resources</a>