Cold enough for the pine beetle?

Ever since mountain pine beetles swept into the province, Albertans shivering through any deep freeze have sought small comfort in hoping the chill was killing the forest-destroying invader.

"Cold enough for you?"

"At least, it should freeze the mountain pine beetles."

Problem was, there was no way of knowing for sure because the pest, Dendroctonus ponderosae, is one tough survivor.

Now, Canadian government scientists based in Edmonton’s Northern Forestry Centre say they have developed a model to more accurately estimate how many beetles are killed when temperatures plunge.

By Bill Mah

Full Story: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/business/Cold+enough+pine+beetle/1071909/story.html