Pine bark beetles, Dendroctonus ponderosae, are small and black and only live one year. Adults bore into mature pine trees and lay their eggs in the soft inner bark, where their larvae feed on sugars being transported from leaves to roots. Pine beetles increase forest complexity, thereby supporting native biodiversity.

This illustration was drawn from real life near Eskers Provincial Park nearly two decades after a pine beetle event.

The Life after Disturbance series highlights the importance of natural cycles of death and life in primary forests, and cultivates an appreciation for their beauty and ecological value. This series of illustrations showcases landscapes in the wake of four common natural disturbances in Interior BC – fire, spruce beetle, looper moth, and pine beetle. This project documents the rich ecological stories of the diversity of life that thrive in post-disturbance landscapes.