Tree Damage, San Bernardino Mountains, 27 Nov 2003

South slope of San Bernardino Mountains, below Highway 18. This slope was covered with thick brush and scattered trees before the fire. 27 Nov 2003

South slope of San Bernardino Mountains, below Highway 18. 27 Nov 2003

Top of Dogwood Canyon, Blue Jay. Trees killed by the Western Pine Bark Beetle (Dendroctonus brevicomis) have been removed. Blue Jay, 27 Nov 2003.

More clearing of dead trees. Blue Jay, 27 Nov 2003.

A sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana) killed by the bark beetle. Blue Jay, 27 Nov 2003.

Stump of a 200-year-old +/- ponderosa pine killed by the bark beetle. Blue Jay, 27 Nov 2003.

Stump of a 400-year-old +/- sugar pine killed by the bark beetle. Blue Jay, 27 Nov 2003.

Mobile chipper. Blue Jay, 27 Nov 2003.

A sugar pine killed by the beetle. Blue Jay, 27 Nov 2003.

Same sugar pine. As the beetle attacks, the tree exudes pitch from the bore holes, creating "pitch tubes." This will expell many of the beetles, but not all. Blue Jay, 27 Nov 2003.

Here, the tree was successful in expelling a beeetle. Blue Jay, 27 Nov 2003.

The inside of a piece of ponderosa pine bark, showing bark beetle damage. The beetles feed on the cambium of the tree, which is the growing part just inside the bark. Blue Jay, 27 Nov 2003.

Here is the outside of the same piece of bark, showing many bore holes holes. Blue Jay, 27 Nov 2003.

Close-up of bark beetle bore holes. Blue Jay, 27 Nov 2003.

Anothe piece of damaged ponderosa pine bark.

Close-up of beetle-damaged bark. Blue Jay, 27 Nov 2003.

Ponderosa pine log, showing bore holes in bark and damaged cambium. Blue Jay, 27 Nov 2003.

De-barked ponderosa pine log, showing damaged cambium. Blue Jay, 27 Nov 2003.

Ponderosa pine log, cross-section. The blueish streaks are caused by the "blue stain fungus" (Ceratocystis minor) that is transmitted by the bark beetle. The fungus chokes off the conductive vessels in the inner bark and sapwood, hastening the death of the tree. Blue Jay, 27 Nov 2003.

A hemipteran found under a piece of bark. Blue Jay, 27 Nov 2003.

My parents' place. Blue Jay, 27 Nov 2003.