Beetles

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Permalink Reply by Crawfish on January 12, 2010 at 11:48am

Joe:
Spraying of approved insecticides, if timed right and correctly done, is known to offer effective one-year protection against bark beetle infestation of pine trees, but you are right to be concerned about spraying anywhere close to lakes or streams, as the sprays can endanger many kinds of aquatic creatures.

As to the effectiveness of Verbenone packets attached to trees, I have no personal experience to share, just considerable interest in the topic. In the past year I have encountered mixed reviews from several forest entomologists, one of whom says Verbenone is "promising" (translation: for him, the jury's still out) and another who contends that it's ineffective, at least in protecting Ponderosa. I would be willing to look into this matter further, but it would help to know first whether your trees are lodgepole or Ponderosa, and also on what kind of trees you found Verbenone packets, and finally what the Forest Service disclaimers you saw actually stated.

Please let me know.

-- Crawfish

P.S. Regarding another non-spray product (Acephate inserts placed in holes drilled under the bark -- trade name Acecap), a 2006 U.S. Forest Service study concluded it is totally ineffective for use against the mountain pine beetle and ips beetle. For details, see http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs_other/rmrs_2006_clancy_k001.pdf. It's not light reading, but the bottom line is that the tablets are supposed to be inserted in the tree's xylum, a layer underneath the phloem layer on which these bark beetles actually feed.

P.P.S Area property owners who want to learn how to identify and deal with bark beetle infestations before the larvae hatch and fly to neighboring trees should watch the Red Feather Flap for details about a clinic to be held in Red Feather Lakes later this winter, led by a Colorado State Forest Service professional. The meeting, to be held on a weekend day, is being arranged by Roger Svendsen, a board member of the Red Feather Lakes Property Owners Association. The RFLPOA website will also carry news of the clinic.

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Permalink Reply by Roger Svendsen on January 12, 2010 at 1:22pm

Hello Joe and Jim,
A little fine tuning on the subject of Verbenone. This product is an anti-pheromone. It is designed to repel mountain pine beetles. I don't think there is any difference in effectiveness vs. tree species. It is a reasonable approach when your trees are too close to water ..... fifty feet. Good spray companies can control their spray further than fifty feet if there is no wind. A key word is REPEL!! It sends a message to beetles landing on protected trees that the tree is already heavily infested and to try another tree. So, it sends the beetles to other nearby trees ... like your neighbor!!! The cost is high. The packets cost about $15/each and should be tacked to the tree at about 6 feet and 20 feet high. Therefore the cost is about $30/tree. That is double or more over the cost of spraying.
That said, I used Verbenone on two of my trees last year and they were not hit. I had my other large trees sprayed, and one was hit, but the beetle was pitched out. I live on Ramona Lake and two of my trees are very close to the water. I did not spray all of my trees.
Large experiments have been conducted in British Columbia using Verbenone. It was used to protect large areas by placing it around the perimeter of large stands. There was an A / B comparison study between two nearby towns, one using Verbenone and the other nothing. There was a HUGE difference in attacks. The protected area did lose some trees, but the other town lost almost all their trees. British Columbia has a bigger problem than the U.S.
Verbenone must be fresh and lasts about 3 months, therefore it should be placed on your trees in late June. It must be kept cool, therefore place it on the north side of the trees. Get the material from a reputable supplier. It comes sealed in foil packs, but if it got too hot during shipping, it is useless.
One other comment ..... spraying with Astro (the preferred material) lasts about 3 months, not a year. Therefore spraying near the end of June is best for this material also.
My last comment here today is: There is a lot of folklore relative to this problem. Some of what I have said may be shown to be incorrect over time. All of us are on a steep learning curve and these darn beetles are not all that predictable. Joe, be aware there were several severely hit trees on the north side of Shagwa several years ago. I recommend you have an inspection if you are not quite sure what to look for. We can do that for you.
Roger

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Permalink Reply by Joe Jacklovich on January 12, 2010 at 2:02pm

Hey Roger & Jim

I would love to have someone come out and do an inspection when I am going to be up there, and someone who knows what the deal is was going to be in the area. Maybe give me a plan of attack and what to look for. Actually I can make it a point to be up there pretty much anytime someone can come take a look.

My trees are not within 50 feet of the lake, but there is an irrigation ditch that is probably that close. We are on the west side of Shagwa.

This report http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/gilpin/docs/gibson_verbenone_use_p... was pretty favorable for the Verbenone stuff and was about the most current one I could find anywhere.

I have no idea if I have Ponderosa or Lodge Pole Pines, I'm very much a newbie to the area and all this stuff.

Thanks
Joe

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Permalink Reply by Roger Svendsen on January 12, 2010 at 6:08pm

Hi Joe,
Please go to www.redfeatherlakes.net and click on the beetles link in the right hand column. You can request an inspection there. One of us will respond and set up a get-together. It is a lot easier when there is no snow on the ground!! As Jim has mentioned, we will have a training class in the late winter. If you are interested, you could help us fight this problem.
Roger

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Permalink Reply by Joe Jacklovich on January 13, 2010 at 7:18am

Hi Roger

Sounds good, I'll watch for the training class and I'll get something set up for springtime when the snow is gone.

Thanks for your help
Joe

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Permalink Reply by Roger Svendsen on February 2, 2010 at 9:50pm

Greetings: We will be conducting a Mountain Pine Beetle / IPS Beetle clinic on Saturday, April 10 at the RFL POA building. Please go to www.redfeatherlakes.net to learn more details and sign up. (Click on the "Beetle" link.) All are welcome. We will be really happy if you will join the RFL Beetle Team to help other RFL residents discover beetle infestations and let them know what they can do about them.

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Permalink Reply by Joe Jacklovich on February 3, 2010 at 6:25am

Great! Thanks for setting this up Roger.

I just signed up for the class

Later
Joe

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Permalink Reply by Joe Jacklovich on February 9, 2010 at 1:16pm

Looks like maybe another alternative http://www.northfortynews.com/News/20100215_NewPineBeetleTreatment.htm that was tested up in Crystal Lakes.

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Permalink Reply by Dave Lee on March 1, 2010 at 7:00am

Joe,

I am in the process of researching Verbenone for use on my trees as well. I will get back to you with some answers as I find out more.

Dave

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Permalink Reply by Joe Jacklovich on March 1, 2010 at 7:15am

Hey Dave

You might want to look at this ODC stuff as well, from what I understand it seems to be a cheaper solution http://www.biocontrols.com/secure/shop/item.asp?itemid=141 I think it is applied around the drip line of the tree and it causes the tree to produce more sap so the beetle will be pitched out if it does infect the tree.

I'm hoping the class in April will talk about some of these things.

Thanks
Joe

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Permalink Reply by Dave Lee on March 1, 2010 at 7:34am

Joe,

I did see the article on this stuff. I am still not sure which way to go regarding tree protection. I will also miss the April 10 beetle class due to a previously scheduled vacation. Please keep me posted.

Thanks,
Dave

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