Empire of the Beetle: How Human Folly and a Tiny Bug Are Killing North America's Great Forests

by Andrew Nikiforuk

A Globe & Mail Top 100 Selection

Beginning in the late 1980s, a series of pine beetle (also known as the bark beetle) outbreaks unsettled iconic forests and communities across western North America. An insect the size of a rice kernel eventually killed more than 30 billion pine and spruce trees from Alaska to New Mexico.

The pine beetle didn't act alone. Misguided science, out-of-control logging, bad public policy, and a hundred years of fire suppression released the world's oldest forest manager from all natural constraints. The beetles exploded wildly in North America and then crashed, leaving in their wake grieving landowners, humbled scientists, hungry animals, and altered watersheds. Although climate change triggered this complex event, human arrogance assuredly played a role. And despite the billions of public dollars spent on control efforts, the beetles burn away like a fire that can't be put out.

Author Andrew Nikiforuk draws on first-hand accounts from entomologists, botanists, foresters, and rural residents to investigate this unprecedented pine beetle plague, its startling implications, and the lessons it holds. Written in an accessible way, Empire of the Beetle is the only book on the pine beetle epidemic that is devastating the North American West.

Published in partnership with the David Suzuki Foundation.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Environment, Science, Ecology, Animals, Science Nature

240 pages, Paperback

First published July 11, 2011

About the author

Andrew Nikiforuk is a leading investigative journalist who has written about education, economics, and the environment for the past two decades. His work has appeared in a variety of Canadian publications including The Walrus, Maclean's, Canadian Business, Report on Business, Chatelaine, Georgia Straight, Equinox and Harrowsmith.

He is the author of the critically acclaimed Empire of the Beetle and the bestseller Tar Sands, which won the Rachel Carson Environment Book Award. His book Saboteurs: Wiebo Ludwig’s War against Oil was the winner of the Governor General’s Literary Award for Non-Fiction. His other books include Pandemonium and The Fourth Horseman: A Short History of Plagues, Scourges and Emerging Viruses. His journalism has won seven National Magazine Awards and top honours for investigative writing from the Association of Canadian Journalists.

Nikiforuk lives with his family in Calgary, Alberta. Whether speaking or writing about melting glaciers, peak oil, the destruction of the boreal forest, or bark beetle outbreaks, Nikiforuk has earned a reputation as an honest and provocative voice in Canadian journalism.

Reviews

[Ruth Seeley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating read that, unfortunately, is mostly a scathing indictment of corporate and political folly (what's unfortunate about it is that there doesn't seem to be any way back, given the perfect storm we've colluded in creating by promoting monoculture instead of the natural diversity nature intended). Nikiforuk's a compelling writer, and provides an excellent overview of the factors that have combined to doom our forests: a refusal to let forests renew themselves by fire; global warming leading to longer lifespans and increased reproductivity amongst various tree-killing beetles; misguided and often cynical attempts to deal with the devastation the beetles have wrought.

Other reviews have focused on Chapter 7, "The Song of the Beetle," and the interesting science experiment and music that's resulted from 'listening' to trees to determine if they've been infested with beetles. The sections of the book I actually found most moving were those that dealt with the response of people in the wake of the devastation, the artistic response (not well known outside northern and central British Columbia) to the sudden loss of forests that had survived being plundered by centuries, and Chapter 8, "The Sheath-Winged Cosmos," that details both 'beetle trials' and the way our attitude to the species has evolved to our mutual detriment. This is a must-read for tree-huggers and non-tree huggers alike.

Here's what some other people had to say about it:

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[Woodsie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be the only book about forests I'd recommend to the average reader ahead of The Golden Spruce. Basically global warming and fire suppression have created a perfect storm, with beetles breeding faster, surviving winter more often and increasing in range every year. The Mountain Pine Beetle's moved east through Alberta's Peace river area, and now has unimpeded access to Jack Pines from Yukon to Newfoundland. There's a truly terrifying scale to all bark beetle bubbles from towering Sitka Spruce in Alaska to the aged and once fruitful Bristlecone pines in Glacier and Yellowstone Parks. This book might seem like a nerdy distraction, but it predicts a coming apocalypse, which anyone who's seen ghost-forests as far as the eye can see, can believe is only a change of degree, not kind.

Beetles might just be more ambitious than us, at least they're hungrier than us. They eat 1/3 of our food crops, they ate most of our damn timber, you saw that. Apparently ancient cultures used to venerate beetles. I mean we all knew there's more species of beetles than mammals right? They're one huge engine of the Cambrian explosion. Darwin and his ilk fussed over them; Darwin named some random non-bark beetle his favourite animal (but he named vegetation his favourite thing to look at, so). The Lady Bug's named after an apparition of Mary which apparently saved crops. The ancient Egyptians thought the dung beetle like the God which rolled the sun across the sky. I mean, there's lots of stuff ancient peoples didn't know about.

[Diana Sandberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow - a non-fiction book that I found as compelling reading as a good novel. Nikiforuk deftly interweaves information about the recent history of various beetle infestations of forests with a larger focus on the ecology of forests in general, the life cycle of these beetles and the complexity of their interactions with not only trees but mites and fungus. He includes stories of ancient trees with singular pollinators and their crucial significance to bears. And he delineates the human elements - monoculture, fire suppression and of course climate change - that have contributed to the catastrophe. It’s masterfully written.

[Buddy Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a really interesting read. Sure it was a bit technical at times and I might not have known the meaning of the odd word here or there. But I was thoroughly interested all the time and honestly feel like I learned a lot. Not just brain knowledge but also growth in my understanding of the world as a whole.

Thank you Mr. Nikiforuk

[Bharat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, great read heartbreaking and life-affirming at the same time. Nikiforuk really brings out the complexity of the beetle-tree interaction and tries to disabuse us of the notion that we can control ecosystems.

[Jace Stansbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

For all you beetle lovers this is the book for you.

[Mortalform · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Anchorage newspaper made an astute observation about the infestation: "In a sense the beetle is managing spruce forests by killing old trees and leaving the new. But the Forest Service would rather manage its own trees. And has been experimenting with ways to beat the beetle at its game." p 9

This book brilliantly illustrates the fact that humanity does more harm than good when it gets in the way of nature's design. As humans we simply lack the capacity to understand nature's systems with the depth and complexity that is required to act in ways that don't make a total shitcake of what we hoped to accomplish. Nikiforuk writes accessibly and engagingly on how humanity gets in it's own way and causes disasters on scales unforeseen. His book will provide you with a solid understanding of the current pine beetle situation, all the human influences that brought us to this pass and offers few suggestions on what can be done about it. That is up to the reader to pursue.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mountain Pine Beetle infestation has been somewhat interesting to me for a few years now, but seeing the devastation creep increasingly forward through our Rocky Mountain forests have really brought it to the forefront of my mind. This book was quite a fascinating explanation on the MPB and other bark beetles damaging various forests throughout western North America. Very insightful look at forest management practices and climate change that are creating ideal situations for the beetles to move in. And quite the timely read as it spoke of several BC forests wiped out by beetle attacks - some of the very forests that are currently feeding out of control wildfires.

[Themightyx · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty interesting book, although I'm glad to be done with it for the simple reason that the author really, really likes to describe excrement as "shit." I know there's nothing inherently WRONG with swears, but COME ON, you're a WRITER, use your words! I also found it EXTREMELY aggravating that every time the author uses the term "Frass," he nearly ALWAYS parenthetically defined it as "sawdust and beetle shit." He uses the word frass fairly often, too; if I haven't gotten it by the first two times you've defined it, I never will, and PLEASE stop saying "beetle shit!"

Pretty decent otherwise, although very depressing.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in 2011, this is a great reminder that government and corporate interests have disregarded or subverted science and natural cycles long before our current administration began it's outright assault. Nikiforuk's writing is approachable and draws from entomologists, forest managers, botanists and fungal experts, weaving a full picture of bark beetle life cycles and their roles in the forest. I found two chapters particularly fascinating: one described the organisms that the beetle carries with it (fungi, mites, bacteria which both aid and hinder the beetles' impact on the trees) and another outlined the history, diversity, and sheer abundance of beetles. Highly recommended.

[D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I quite liked this book. Entertaining to read, and of course I feel like I finally have a proper understanding of the beetle phenomena. I totally agree with Nikiforuk's analysis of the forest industry and in fact, feel like he could have been even MORE damning of it at times. My only problem with the book was the occasional metaphor that felt a bit overdramatic, and redundant. He occasionally repeats himself, although it's not too big of a problem. I'll definitely read some more from him in the future.

[Rebecca Ferrera · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very informative and certainly contains as much information about bugs as I've ever wanted to know. It has been a while since I've read it, but I recall feeling a bit depressed after finishing the book, with a sense of doom about all western forests. Since then the beetle disaster has faded from the news and the crisis was apparently dealt with, but my money is on the certainty that there's another one just around the corner that has resulted (or will result) from climate change.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have always wondered about the pine beetles and folks always ask me since I'm an entomologist. The book was a bit dry and repetitive, but an interesting exploration of the underlying dangers to America's forests made apparent, but not necessarily caused by, the pine beetle. Could have done without the random side comments about Stephen wood being a Mormon...they were unneeded jabs that had nothing to do with the story and interrupted the flow of the scientific text.

[Brian Griffith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nikiforuk covers North America's recent rise of bark beetle irruptions as a good disaster journalist. Then he keeps digging -- into the background of forest history, insect evolution, resource management strategy, climate change, and our counterproductive wars on whatever creatures we can't respect. It's a huge, dramatic story of animal creativity and human arrogance. It also highlights one of the greatest examples of climate-change-driven transformation of the world.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this in Glacier National Park and kept it in my car to read out loud when my husband and I travel. This book is interesting, engaging, infuriating, and horrifying. It is quite painful to read about how futile the fight has been against nature, and how often we get it wrong. A must read for anyone interested in the environment.

[Emiko Morita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think Mr. Nikiforuk fell in love with beetles while researching this book! It's a fascinating read and I loved the anecdotes about artists who have created everything from compositions to sculptures.

[Jerry Haigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much more information about beetles than I had ever realized. Human folly and greed and their failed attempts to deal with natural cycles. A thoroughly researched account that will fascinate students of natural history.

[Leo Saumure · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although a tad repetitive from chapter to chapter (more and more bugs eating more and more timber), the unique nuggets do emerge in each chapter, and I was compelled to keep reading more and more.
A very good book with a message that, hopefully, will make it through to business and policy makers.

[Mike Dettinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Important for any one living and caring about western landscapes. And well written too.

[David Kessler · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book which shows how foolish we can be in trying to stop nature run its course.
Short and sweet reading.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who knew a book about beetles could be so enthralling? I really only picked this up because I enjoyed Nikiforuk's Tar Sands book so much - but am I ever glad I did.

[William Irwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hello. I would recommend ignoring some of the petty complaints made below and to read this book. Too important a subject to dismiss due to online silliness.

[Carol Dimond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating

[David Arch · Rating 4 out of 5]

We first noticed the extent of devastation created by the pine beetle in 2011 on a visit to the Black Hills...so much had changed since our previous visit I’m 1991.....the trees!
Nikiforuk documents the devastation of the pine beetle across Canada and the US and traces the cause to monoculture, poor management and, the big trigger, climate change. This book does not leave me with much hope for the forest

[Audrey Sauble · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book fascinating and more than a little disturbing in the way that it highlights just how much humans try to control nature for short-term gains. Each chapter looks at a different aspect of bark beetle outbreaks, from their appearance in different regions to the cultural, scientific, and political responses to the outbreaks. The common theme, though, seems to be that human attempts to control nature may in many cases turn normal arboreal cycles into a catastrophe.

[Brent L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book on the disastrous effects of human "forestry management" and climate change. Not really knowing anything about bark beetles before reading this book, it was quite eye-opening.
It was interesting to see just how detrimental our fire suppression efforts, forestry monocultures, clear-cutting and other efforts to control beetle outbreaks actually are. The beetles are really not the villains here.

Well worth the read for anyone in North America.

[Jake Misky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting. Learned a lot. Salvage logging slam piece. Told as a collection of vignettes so my interest waned throughout the book. The book was still able to get its point across quite well through these vignettes

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informational. Provides insight not only about the bark beetles but how nature functions through their example.

[Mylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Important, well researched and well written book on the pine beetle outbreaks being seen across North America. Changed my view on them, really good read.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent look at the complexity of forest systems. Aside from a couple of poor chapters in the last third, this is well done.