1957

YOSEMITE NATURE NOTES UPPER CHAIN LAKES PEAK IN BACKGROUND

The future of these high country forests is in danger.

THE MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF

THE Yosemite NATURALIST division AND

THE YOSEMITE NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION, INC.

'John C. Preston, Superintendent D. H. Hubbard, Park Naturalist G. D. Gallison, Assoc. Park Naturalist W. C. Bullard, Asst. Park Naturalist R. W. Carpenter, Park Naturalist (Trainee)

VOL. XXXVI MAY 1957 NO. 5 WHAT'S HAPPENING TO YOSEMITE 'S FORESTS?

By Hal Roth As thick as thin pencil lead and a shading pine canopy is essential for quarter of an inch long, a pink public use. Loss of the trees results black-headed caterpillar called the not only in the destruction of aesthetic needle miner is destroying our Yosemite values and recreational ruin, but forests. a complete loss in usage of man-made improvements. In 1954, the infestation covered 46,000 acres of lodgepole pine forest -The values in the Tuolumne in the upper Tuolumne watershed. country are tremendous, " says Ernst. Thousands of acres of trees are al- "The needle miner may destroy the ready dead and the blight is spreadentire forest recreational potential of ing epidemically, leaving miles and the Upper Tuolumne Basin, in fairly miles of ghost forests in one of our high use now and certainly the most most famous national parks. When important part of the park for the infested with the needle miner the future. The area is hardly opened weakened forests are prey for the up and already the Park Service has dreaded mountain pine beetle which, several hundred thousand dollars when once started in the lodgepole invested in campgrounds and develforests, can sweep into healthy opments. stands of sugar pine, among the most "We estimate that in 1955 approxivaluable timber in the country. mately 100,000 park visitors passed "We can't say for certain, " says through the Tuolumne Meadows Emil Ernst, Park Forester, "what the area in spite of the poor access extent of the needle miner is in Yoroad, " says Ernst. semite since the infestation is inThe damage is caused by the creasing tremendously in both inlarvae of the needle miner, a tiny tensity and area. Probably over whitish moth with a wingspread of a 60,000 acres now. Way back in 1947 quarter of an inch. Each larva eats it was obvious that the Tuolumne or rather mines out--from three to area was in difficulty; since then it five pine needles, hollowing out the has become worse every year. " leaves and causing them to die. Stands of lodgepole pine form the Since there are billions and billions forest cover in much of the High of larvae in the epidemic, the trees Sierra, especially in the most inare being stripped of their foliage tensely used recreational areas. In and choked to death. One can go campgrounds and picnic sites the through miles of the region north of

The healthy foliage of the Lodge Pole Pine is attacked by the larva of the Needle Miner. Tuolumne Meadows as I did on horseback and see thousands of de-foliated trees, the brownish hollowed-out needles in deep piles on the ground around the trunks. The annual ring growth has become thinner and thinner and finally stopped completely as the tree increasingly lost its leaves. Four successive two-year generations of needle miners cause 75 to 90 per cent defoliation. In the course of an epidemic 80 to 90 per cent of the mature trees are killed either directly, from the effects of continued de-foliation, or indirectly, from the mountain pine beetles which are attracted to the weakened trees. Twice in the recorded history of Yosemite, from 1910 to 1922, and from 1933 to 1940, the needle miner has struck at the lodgepole pine leaving ghost forests of bleached snags. The present epidemic has come just as the new forests had begun to thrive, only this epidemic is affecting more land and is catastrophic since the area is part of an important national park with increasingly intensive use. If the mountain pine beetle outbreak continues, it can spread to the valuable sugar pine stands in Yosemite and the nearby national forests. Besides the Yosemite outbreak, a needle miner in festation covers 10,000 acres in Sequoia National Park, Yellowstone Crater Lake and Banff, Canada have needle miner problems. The problem in needle miner control was lack of basic information: about the insect. Almost nothing was known about it. The scientists had to start at the beginning. Insects and diseases harmful to plants are often controlled with sprays or by doing something that will break the life sequence of the pest—like destroy ing the gooseberry plant to interrupt the white pine blister rust cycle. The hollowed-out needles die and fall off the tree causing it to choke to death.

4A In the Conness Basin near Young Lake these thousands of Lodgepole Pines are dead, victims of the Needle Miner. Only Hemlocks in foreground and a very few in the forest beyond have escaped. In 1954, the mountain pine beetle ment Station. Factors giving rise to infestations increased. In the more epidemics, their prolonged character, severely needle miner de-foliated and the causes of their eventual deareas, thousands of lodgepoles showcline are little understood. The study ed the characteristic signature of is attempting to determine the biobeetles under the bark. A large-scale logical and ecological factors which beetle control project, supplied by account for the rise and fall of epian air drop, was attempted in the demic populations. The scientists Conness Basin, in the Upper Tuolhave undertaken systematic studies rimne watershed, where some of the to determine population trends as a heaviest needle miner attacks have basis for prediction or early discovoccurred. About 1,700 trees were ery of outbreaks. treated by laboriously felling and The lodgepole needle miner in burning the infested bark. A later Yosemite has a two-year life cycle, survey showed an additional 3,945 each generation beginning in the odd beetle-infested trees in the area. numbered years (1953, 1955, etc.) Because the needle miner outbreak with uncanny regularity. Since the is so intense, prolonged and persisneedle miner is a true caterpillar, it tent, a field camp was established goes through four stages in the twoat Tuolumne Meadows by the Diviyear sequence : egg, one month; sion of Forest Insect Research of the larva, 21 months; pupa, one month; California Forest and Range Experiadult moth, one month. In 1953 a new

4 :. YUSI :MI'l'l : NA'!'lllil; Nun:: Dead Lodgepoles at Tenaya Lake evidence infestation of 1912-1922. Young trees are already infested with Needle Miners. generation began that was greater than any since the epidemic started in 1945. This cycle reached the adult stage in July 1955. Concentrations are being tested. than any since the epidemic started "Malathion, or organic phosphate, in 1945. This cycle reached the adult has proved outstanding so far, - says stage in July 1955. Entomologist Struble. "Just a flick of the sprayer and every insect in the sprayed area is killed. It even kills the larvae and pupae inside the needles.

The scientists at the camp are making population counts at each stage of development. By systematically selecting groups of needles and counting the eggs or larvae, the degree of infestation can be accurately determined. By keeping records of the egg, larval, pupal, and adult populations, the degree of epidemic and the course of the infestation can be plotted.

Natural enemies of the needle miner are being checked to see if it is possible to decrease the epidemic populations by introducing, or aiding in some way, enemy parasites. A needle miner virus was found and identification work is being done under the electron microscope at the University of California.

The best—and most immediate control hope appears to be insecticides. Endrin, Dieldrin, and Malathion, or organic phosphate, have proved outstanding so far, says Entomologist Struble. "Just a flick of the sprayer and every insect in the sprayed area is killed. It even kills the larvae and pupae inside the needles.

"But testing insecticides isn't as simple as spraying a few trees," says Struble. "The recent tests have been encouraging, but we have to find out how long the spray will last, how they effect the trees, what will happen to fish and wildlife, and the effects on other insects.

"We make careful population counts of the needle miners before and after the spray tests, treating the trees in the pilot plots with different chemicals in varying concentrations.

Knowing when to spray is another problem. At certain stages, when the insect is more vulnerable, it is possible to use smaller easier applied and cheaper concentrations of the sprays and still kill the needle miners. the insect is more vulnerable, it is The best—and most immediate possible to use smaller easier apcontrol hope appears to be insectiplied and cheaper concentrations aides. Endrin, Dieldrin, and Make of the sprays and still kill the needle

Through burning "Midnight Oil" a great discovery was made. miners. A light spray isn't so likely far enough along to give reasonable to upset the ecological balance in assurance of success, " they say. The the forest. " problem of applying the spray may In their quest for information the be solved by using the new, more scientists were stumped by one thing : powerful helicopters which can carry when do the needle miners mate? a substantial payload up to 12,000 Everyone propounded vague hypo feet. These machines cost up to $300 theses but nothing was conclusive. an hour to operate. If only it could be found out. One " That would be cheap if we can night New Zealand Entomologist find out something, " says Park SupDave Morgan was working late. He erintendent John C. Preston. " The wanted a newly picked leaf cluster Conness Basin beetle control project so he went into the woods with his cost $18,000 alone. Control of the flashlight and got down on his knees needle miner is one of the most im to strip a few leaves from a lower portant problems in Yosemite today. branch. Then he saw it. There are millions of dollars ' worth of trees in the Tuolurnne high country "Quick lads," shouted Dave that we've got to protect. Future through the darkened row of tents. campground development will be " I've found out when the little impossible if they 're lost. The area beasties do it. Come out with your is one of our best places for expanflashlights. " Soon all the entornolosion from the overcrowding in Yogists were out in the woods on their semite Valley. We have tried our knees late at night holding flashbest to knock out the needle miner lights and observing the mating but weren't sure what we were up cycle of the Rrrxrruria tblillrri• against. We had to start almost from The entomologists soon hope to scratch. But you can be sure we'll make definite spraying recommenwork until we get it. Who wants to dations. "The work should then be camp in a ghost forest? "

EDITOR'S NOTE :

We are indebted to Westways, monthly publication of the Automobile Club of Southern California, for permission to reprint this article which appeared in their November 1956 issue.

l'I Y U,;I :MI I i, N/1 I Illd : N )'ll„;

AN ASCENT OF SING PEAK

By Richard Wason, Ranger-Naturalist While neither a high nor particunamed Rip. The present register was larly difficult climb, an ascent of placed by Richard Bower of OakSing Peak (10,544 feet), in the south land, California, on September 3, boundary country of Yosemite Na1948, after a serious accident had tional Park is, apparently, not corn-. been suffered by one of his party man. This may be due to its remotein traversing from Gale Peak. In his ness from well-traveled trails or its notation Bower reminded us that the proximity to Gale Peak (10,690 feet), peak had been named for Ah Sing, a more popular challenge for the Chinese cook for the U. S. Geologirock climber. At this writing, the only cal Survey team that mapped the recorded ascent of Sing Peak in 1956 Yosemite area at the turn of the cenwas made by the author and Wally tury. Perhaps Sing is the only perAbersold, Yosemite Fire Control son ever to be memorialized for the Aide, on August 13. quality of his flapjacks! After having camped overnight at Our descending route brought us Upper Chiquito public camp in to a point below Chain Lakes where Sierra National Forest, we hiked we picked up the trail to Moraine cross-country following the shoulder Meadows and our camp for the of the east fork of Chiquito Creek, night. The South Fork of the Merced eventually reaching the saddle heyielded several fine eastern brook tween Madera and Sing Peaks. trout for breakfast, after which we From here a rather easy scramble made our way via Fernandez Pass over the highly weathered metamorto Clover Meadows and a lift back phis: rocks brought us to the summit. to our car at Chiquito, courtesy of A superb panorama of mountain the U. S. Forest Service. peaks was part of our reward. A Some interesting, if not unusual, vast portion of Yosemite 's high bird observations were made. Close country -- from the valley of the to timberline on the ascent to Sing, South Fork to the west, to Yosemite ' s we caught a brief glimpse of a humrooftop, Mt. Lyell, to the northeast -- rningbird which was attracted, op. was spread out before us. Standing parently, by the abundant blooms on a mountain summit and looking of Pride of the Mountains (Peu.ctt'n(wrr out indefinitely in any direction withnea In rr)'i). In descending from the out glimpsing a single sign of civilipeak we flushed a sooty grouse zation is always a humbling experthat made off in its typically noisy ience, and we are the richer for flight, and a half-dozen grosbeaks having done so once again. were visitors to our camp at Moraine Looking into the register cached Meadows. in a cairn at the summit, we discovI was particularly interested in ered that apparently the first asthe variety of tree species to be seen cent of Sing was made by Mr. Claud on the trip from Fernandez Pass to Laval and Dr. W. W. Chase of Fr esClover Meadows. Hiking down hill no on August 22, 1915. At least 14 has a way of making distance go other persons had climbed the peak, by faster, hut I had the impression in addition to what must have been of a very marked telescoping and a most hardy and faithful dog overlapping of normal altitudinat

YOSi :MI'1'l; NA'PURI : NO 'T'ES

Looking North from Fernandez Pass. ranges -- all of the Hudsonian and sore and weary, but firmly conCanadian zone species being found vinced that the south-eastern part of in one rather short section of the Yosemite is a region of great beauty trail. and interest and deserving of greatCompletion of this rather hurried er visitation.

ANOTHER WINGED TRAVELER

By Henry G. Weston, Jr., Ranger-Naturalist The beautiful orange and black casional extensive stands of snowy monarch (Danam pinvippr(s) is one of milkweed. the best known of our native butterIn the insect world one finds that flies, occurring abundantly in many many species spend parts of their parts of the North American continrespective life cycles in rather close ent. Some people know it better as proximity to specific kinds of plants. the milkweed butterfly because of In the case of the monarch in Yoits association with the milkweed semite Valley, the showy milkweed plant. In Yosemite Valley it is a is utilized. The adult female will lay common sight flitting about the octiny pale green eggs on the under-

Yosemite NA 'I'UliE NOTES surface of a milkweed leaf. The cat erpillar or larva that hatches fron each egg feeds on the tissues of ill( leaf. As the caterpillar reaches it, maximum size it assumes a greenfsl color on which traverse bands o black and yellow are superimposed This larval stage then forms a co coon or chrysalis, also attached tc the milkweed. This cocoon is a beau tiful object, frequently being rather appropriately called the little greer house with gold nails "' because of pale green color and raised metallic gold spots. After a week or two the winged adult appears and the cycle is complete. The monarch is also known as the "'wanderer" because of its travels. Of the several hundred insects that are known to migrate, this species is probably the most widely known. In North America it is probably the only butterfly that can be designated as a true migrator; moving like a migrating bird down the map each fall. Several factors undoubtedly aid the monarchs in their movements. Some sort of a chemical adaptation seems to render them relatively unpalatable to predators. Hence they are not commonly used as food by insectivorous birds. This plus the fact that they are very powerfulwinged and therefore capable of long flights seems to adapt the species well for migration. The monarchs, unlike many insects, are not adapted to passing through the winter in the colder climates. Hence perhaps the need for the generally southward fall movement. As they move through Canada The Monarch. and the United States, covering many miles, 2000 or more in some cases, they swarm together. Teale, in studying these butterflies as he traveled westward across the United States, described what he saw as "in a continental movement, the butterflies were sweeping in a steady insect tide toward the south. " Movement southward or, as in the case in the Yosemite region, probably generally westward to lower elevations, a swarming instinct seems to take hold of the individuals. Certain groves of trees in various parts of the country furnish annually a resting place for the butterflies during the winter season. The trees so utilized are known as "butterfly trees." Perhaps the annual movement referred to receives most attention at Pacific Grove, California. There millions of monarchs utilize groves of Monterey pine as their winter homes. This town is one of the few insect sanctuaries found in the world today as a city ordinance has been passed to protect them from harm. Teale, in referring to Pacific Grove, states that year after year, the pines house as many as 2,000,000 individuals during the winter months, all concentrated within an area of only a few acres. The why and how of the movements of these insects continues to puzzle the scientific world. The mon-

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Y()t;l'MI'II; N/1'I'lllil; Nf a1(ll;; 111u V(. g(,1101-ally southward is too short to permit individuals to t,ach !all iii groat swarms but in the bridge the gap. from fall to fall. Inspring they travel northward, frestinctively, without leaders, the butfluently singly, and in a rather leiterflies return year after year to the :surely manner. Hence this latter same grove of trees. How do they movement is seldom noticed. Apfind their way? This and many other luarently only a few of the millions questions still remain to mystify and that move south in the fall return to challenge scientific and layman the north In the spring. The life cycle alike. Yosemite Valley is a summer breeding area for Monarchs.