Adult mountain pine beetles prefer large diameter trees, according to the Canadian Forest Service.
The mills and loggers have not had an easy time making money off of pine beetle wood (I think the heavy blue staining that is present in the lumber is OK structurally up to a point).
One of the better plans I have heard is to harvest the trees and make wood pellets for pellet stoves because that wood is going to burn anyhow.
Adult mountain pine beetles prefer large diameter trees, according to the Canadian Forest Service.