How does this map work?

To forecast spruce budworm populations that will feed in the following year, tree branch samples are collected in the fall and winter and submitted to the UMaine Spruce Budworm Lab. The Lab processes the branch samples and counts the overwintering stage of SBW, known as the second larval instar or “L2.” L2 counts and models will be updated at least weekly as new samples are processed by the UMaine Spruce Budworm Lab. 

Any questions on the models should be directed to Dr. Neil Thompson, Associate Professor of Applied Forest Management at UMFK, neil.thompson@maine.edu. Interpolation models are limited to within 5km of the nearest point to avoid misleading results in areas lacking data. Data are clipped to areas with >20% spruce/fir content according to remote sensing data to give a uniform landscape-scale reference; operational decisions should be based on landowners actual inventory data.