One hypothesis is that the yellow cedar decline may be caused by insect parasites, specifically the cedar bark beetle.
As with the mountain bark beetle, it is not entirely clear why this is happening.
genus of small bark beetles destructive especially to mature conifers.
Conifer bark beetles are able not only to recognize, but also to avoid non-host habitats, non-host species and unsuitable hosts by semiochemicals.
Spruce bark beetles have boomed in Alaska thanks to 20 years of warm summers.