Spruce bark beetles, Dendroctonus rufipennis, are tiny and dark brown with reddish wing covers that live up to 3 years. The adults lay their eggs in the soft inner bark of large, old spruce trees. This beetle species is the most important driver of tree death, nutrient cycling, and habitat complexity in many snow dominated ecosystems.

This illustration was drawn from real life in Carp Lake Provincial Park seven years after a spruce 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.