The Forest Health Program offers assistance to landowners in the form of education and information on forest insects and diseases and ways of managing them.

Nevada’s forests are host to several common pests which plague western forests. Widespread stress to the trees - brought on by drought conditions - weaken individual trees creating favorable conditions for the pests. Drought conditions in the early 1990s opened up whole stands of trees in the Carson range to the destructive effects of bark beetle infestation. Dwarf-mistletoe is widespread across the state and infects several different species, including Pinyon pine.

The following are some of our forest pests:

Pinyon Ips Beetle belongs to a group of bark beetles called Ips, or engraver, beetles. It is a native insect in Nevada’s woodlands and is typically present in low numbers. As with many forest insects often considered as “pests,” it plays an important role in the ecosystem.

The Mountain Pine Beetle primarily attacks lodgepole, ponderosa, sugar, and western white pines in Nevada, although pinyon pines are also a recorded host. Scotch pine, a common landscape tree, is also highly susceptible to attack.

The Fir Engraver Beetle is a common bark beetle in western coniferous forests. The beetle primarily attacks fir trees.

The Jeffrey Pine Beetle is one of the most serious insect pest of Jeffrey pine. The beetle attacks only Jeffrey pine and occurs in the Sierra Nevada wherever this tree species is present.

The Pine Engraver Beetle attacks many species of pine including Jeffrey and Ponderosa Pine, Lodgepole Pine and White Pines. Often found in downed trees and slash, this beetle prefers the smaller diameter trees and often kills the tops of pine trees predisposing these trees to other bark beetle attacks.

The Western Pine Beetle is a bark beetle which attacks and kills 6″ diameter and larger ponderosa pine in Nevada. In California, Coulter pine is also attacked by this aggressive beetle.

The Red Turpentine Beetle is a member of the bark beetle family found in pine forests throughout Nevada. It attacks all species of pines in the state, though is rarely a significant pest to any of them.

Dwarf mistletoes are parasitic plants which infect all coniferous tree species in Nevada except incense cedar and the junipers.

Juniper Pocket Rot was recently documented in Nevada and is fairly widespread. This fungal disease creates heart rot decay pockets in the main stem and larger branches of Utah Juniper trees. In severe infection, the tree dies after severe crown decline.

Additional Web Links and Information for Diseases

Forest Mortality Aerial Dection Survey data for Nevada

Publication on Pinyon Ips

Contact Information
Gail Durham
Forest Health Specialist
2478 Fairview Drive
Carson City, Nevada 89701
Phone: 775-684-2513
Fax: 775-684-2571