How far does the mountain pine beetle fly and in what direction?
The pine beetle flies only as far as needed to find another suitable tree to infest. It may be right next to the infested tree or it may be a mile away. Flights up to five miles have been documented. These would have required a strong wind or human assistance (infested firewood). The pine beetles normally fly upwind toward a source of attractant pheromones. Winds can vary greatly and thus are very unpredictable. This is why the direction of pine beetles’ flight is difficult to predict.
