Description:
Aerial surveys of the Nezperce National Forest in Idaho revealed 138,692
acres of aerially visible top kill and tree mortality due to repeated
defoliation by western spruce budworm, Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman.
A small ground sample indicates that up to 47 percent of the grand fir
volume was affected by top kill in some areas. True firs were most
severely affected by repeated defoliation, and Engelmann spruce was
intermediately affected. No top kill or tree mortality was observed
on Douglas-fir.