Area-wide Estimation of Southern Pine Beetle Populations 1

Abstract

Aerial and ground survey methods are combined with within tree sampling procedures for the purpose of estimating absolute numbers of the southern pine beetle Dendroctonus fron-frontalis Zimm. (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) over a discrete forest stand containing a series of infestation spots. Using the combined survey and sampling technique, a procedure for determining the total area of infested bark within the stand is developed. Data collected over a 4- mo period on 800 ha of timber in southwestern Arkansas which contained a series of rapidly growing southern pine beetle infestations are used to illustrate the estimation procedure.