Pine beetle threat grows in the West.

[phantom power]

The current pine beetle infestation is the worst since 1981, when 4.7 million acres of trees were infected, Mangold said. He blames the outbreak on a perfect storm of drought, large stands of old trees and, possibly, warmer temperatures because of climate change.

"It's shocking," said Jeff Witcosky, an entomologist for the U.S. Forest Service in Lakewood, Colo. "We talk about the grieving process."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2008-07-15-beetle-threat_N.htm

[StClone]

1. Emerald Ash Borer in the East

Previously, the early 1800's Chestnut Blight wiped out the ecological foundation species American Chestnut; Dutch Elm Diseases took out another major species, American Elm, in the 1900's; and Pine Beetle in the West and Spruce Bud Worm in the north now.