Interior Alaska’s hot and dry summer of 2013, coupled with an invasion of insect pests, has taken a steep toll on the region’s birch trees, experts say.

9-23-14 Lots of wasps - Kolikanek, Alaska, USA

9-10-14 Unusual caterpillar - Big Lake, Alaska, USA

9-2-14 Caterpillar with reddish tail - Tyonek, Alaska, USA

08-17-14 Abundant bees - Eagle River, Alaska, USA

8-10-14 Thousands of caterpillars - Lake Clark National Park, Alaska, USA

The northern grasshoppers never been observer here before.

A photo of a black unknown insect taken in late July.

7-28-14 Furry black caterpillars - Nondalton Alaska, USA

Could invasive insect be an indicator of changing weather patterns?

7-14-14 Abundant bees & berries - King Cove, Alaska, USA

Unusual insect observation approximately 2 1/2 inches in length and moved slowly, but had long strides.

The 2017 Mount Marathon races were run under cloudy skies and damp conditions. A man swats at bugs that swarmed at the top of Mount Marathon during the race Tuesday, July 4, 2017 in Seward.

Interesting moth - One Tree Island, near Nondalton, Alaska, USA

7-1-14 Bright green bug - Kongignak, Alaska, USA

In just seven years, as much as one-third of the mountain-birch forest in the North Calotte region was severely defoliated by two moth species. Researchers now have a better understanding of what happened.

Milbert's tortoiseshell caterpillar infestation

4-27-14 Geometridae moth - Naknek, Alaska, USA

In Anchorage, the city logged 68 bed bug complaints in 2013, a decrease from the 84 in 2012. There was just one complaint in 2007 and 2008 combined, according to city data.

Dr. Kimberlee Beckmen, the sole veterinarian with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, has investigated 48 tick infestations in the past three years. She’s found evidence that two exotic species are established and reproducing in Alaska.