Insects and diseases can pose serious threats to a forest’s health. Our foresters are available for site visits to look at specific insect or disease concerns on your property.

If your questions cannot be resolved with the information provided, please contact the office. For a fee, foresters are available for site visits to look at specific insect or disease concerns on your property. Samples of the problem also can be sent to our state entomologist in Fort Collins for further investigation.

Spruce Beetle

  • Bark beetle that attacks all species of spruce
  • Attracted to large diameter trees that have been felled by
    wind or stressed by natural
    factors such as flooding, drought or old age
  • Control: Maintain healthy stands and remove infected trees immediately

More information about spruce beetle

Aspen Decline

Since 2004, rapid decline in aspen stands has been noticed in southwest Colorado – especially at lower elevations. Additionally, regeneration is sparse in stands with heavy mortality. Researchers have been unable to assign a specific causal agent; however, it appears to be a combination of drought, cankers, borers and defoliators. Ongoing research may provide some answers in the near future.

More information about common insects and diseases of aspen

Western spruce budworm

Western Spruce Budworm

  • Douglas fir & true firs preferred, but will attack spruce
  • Larvae feed on current year’s foliage.
  • 4-5 years of continuous defoliation can result in tree mortality and significant top kill
  • Control: Spray pesticide on small scale and maintain a healthy diverse forest

More information about western spruce budworm western spruce budworm

Western Balsam Bark Beetle

  • Bark beetle that attacks sub-alpine fir and occasionally Engelmann spruce and lodgepole pine
  • Attracted to unhealthy trees, particularly those weakened by old age and root disease or storm-damaged trees
  • Control: Maintain a healthy stand: remove weakened and unhealthy trees
Beetle in a pitch tube. Photo: Dave Dilling

Douglas Fir Beetle

  • Bark beetle that only attacks Douglas fir
  • Attracted to stressed trees and prefer large old trees in dense stands
  • Control: Maintain healthy stands or use MCH an anti-aggregation pheromone that “repels” the beetles

Mountain Pine Beetle

More information about mountain pine beetle and the ongoing epidemic in Colorado

Mistletoe shoot on ponderosa pine

Dwarf Mistletoe

  • Affects all ages & sizes of ponderosa and lodgepole pines, as well as Douglas fir and piñon pine to a lesser degree
  • Parasitic plant that robs tree of nutrients & water, which causes growth reduction, poor tree form, loss of wood quality and subsequently premature death.
  • Control: Prune mistletoe infected branches and/or remove infected trees

More information about dwarf mistletoe

What is Wrong with my Tree?

More information about diseased trees

Forest Insect & Disease Aerial Survey

This annual survey is led, coordinated and funded by the U.S. Forest Service Health Protection personnel. A small fixed-wing aircraft is flown about 1,000 to 1,500 feet above the treetops while the surveyor marks the location, number and identity of diseased trees on a map. The CSFS has assisted in the aerial survey since the 1970s and even more significantly beginning in 1997.

More information about Colorado’s annual aerial survey