Eastern larch beetle, a changing climate, and impacts to northern tamarack forests

The range of eastern larch beetle, Dendroctonus simplex LeConte, extends across northern Canada and the United States sympatric, with its host, eastern larch or tamarack Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch. Eastern larch beetle has long been viewed as a nonaggressive bark beetle whose populations flare for short durations after periods of tree stress. Recent decades, however, have noted extended tree-killing behavior along the southern margin of the host's range in the Great Lakes region of North America that deviate strongly from historic patterns. This chapter examines the biology and life cycle of the eastern larch beetle and its impacts on tamarack forests in light of a changing climate. Impacts of warming temperatures and extended growing seasons are discussed as well as key areas of future research. The impacts of the eastern larch beetle on tamarack forests are likely to be amplified as climate warming continues.