Douglas-Fir Beetle, Dendroctonus pseudotsugae Hopkins (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae)

2020 ◽  
Vol 153 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-78
Author(s):  
Darrell W. Ross

AbstractThis paper reviews the literature on the identification of 3-methylcyclohex-2-en-1-one (MCH) as the antiaggregation pheromone of the Douglas-fir beetle (Dendroctonus pseudotsugae Hopkins) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and the development of successful management applications using the pheromone. Previously unpublished data from two studies on novel uses of MCH are included. The successful development of antiaggregation pheromone-based treatments for the Douglas-fir beetle is discussed in relation to efforts to develop similar treatments for other bark beetle species, and opportunities for future research on MCH and the Douglas-fir beetle are suggested.


Author(s):  

Abstract A new distribution map is provided for Dendroctonus pseudotsugae Hopkins Coleoptera: Scolytidae Hosts: Mainly Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), also other Pseudotsuga spp. Information is given on the geographical distribution in NORTH AMERICA, Canada, Alberta, British Columbia, Mexico, USA, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.


1971 ◽  
Vol 49 (7) ◽  
pp. 1021-1024 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. S. Sahota

The failure of ovarian development in Douglas-fir bark beetles denied of their natural gallery environment and maintained on host bark chips was investigated. Such insects possessed a high activity of proteolytic enzymes in their guts but relatively small amounts of female-specific proteins both in haemolymph and the oocytes. Topical application of farnesyl methyl ether did not increase the activity of gut proteases but resulted in increased amounts of female-specific proteins in haemolymph and ovaries. Thus it appears that the Douglas-fir bark beetles maintained on bark chips do not suffer from an inability to break down the ingested proteins, but synthesize and transfer less than normal amounts of female-specific proteins to the developing oocytes.


1977 ◽  
Vol 109 (5) ◽  
pp. 675-686 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. McLean ◽  
J. H. Borden

AbstractEthanol and sulcatol (6-methyl-5-hepten-2-ol), primary attractant and population aggregation pheromone, respectively, for Gnathotrichus sulcatus, were deployed alone or in combination on stumps and felled trees in the University of British Columbia Research Forest, Maple Ridge, B.C. On 18 April 1974, four Douglas-fir trees were felled at each of three locations, and four western hemlock trees were felled at each of three other locations. Felled trees and their respective stumps were baited on 26 April. Attacks by G. sulcatus and bark beetles were recorded at weekly intervals until 25 October. G. sulcatus attacks increased rapidly, reaching a maximum in June and July, followed by a steady decrease to October. Attacks by Dendroctonus pseudotsugae, Pseudohylesinus nebulosus, and P. tsugae showed characteristic seasonal trends, but were not correlated to any of the treatments. Over half the G. sulcatus attacks were on stumps, in which attack densities reached 683.5/m2. The greatest numbers of attacks were on stumps and logs baited with sulcatol or sulcatol plus ethanol. There was a significant interaction between sulcatol and ethanol on Douglas-fir but not on western hemlock. Significantly more G. sulcatus attacked ethanol-baited western hemlock stumps and logs than unbaited controls. However, there was no difference between the level of attack on ethanol-baited Douglas-fir and the controls. The role of ethanol is hypothesized to be more of a boring stimulant than a major attractant. Stumps baited with sulcatol and then treated with ethanolic solutions of systemic insecticide could be used to trap and kill field populations, thus reducing numbers of G. sulcatus being transported to log-booming grounds, dryland sorting areas, and sawmills.


1957 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 80-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. D. Atkins ◽  
J. A. Chapman

This paper describes the main anatomical features of the adult nervous system of the Douglas fir beetle, Dendroctonus pseudotsugae Hopk. The study on which it is based was carried out to provide a background for further work on the nervous system and as part of a program of investigation of the physiology and behaviour of scolytid beetles.Extensive comparative studies of coleopterous nervous system were made long ago by Blanchard (1846) and Brand (1879). Their descriptions of scolytid material are sketchy and brief, however, and because we can find no other treatment of the nervous system in the Scolytidae we are presenting this brief report on our work.


2020 ◽  
Vol 113 (4) ◽  
pp. 1858-1863 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel G Foote ◽  
Christopher J Fettig ◽  
Darrell W Ross ◽  
Justin B Runyon ◽  
Tom W Coleman ◽  
...  

Abstract Douglas-fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco, trees and stands can be protected from Douglas-fir beetle, Dendroctonus pseudotsugae Hopkins (DFB)-caused mortality by application of synthetic formulations of the beetle’s antiaggregation pheromone, 3-methylcyclohex-2-en-1-one (MCH). A biodegradable formulation of MCH, SPLAT MCH, was developed and evaluated for protecting individual Douglas-fir trees and small stands from colonization and mortality by DFB. In an individual-tree experiment in Idaho, both MCH bubble capsules and SPLAT MCH significantly reduced the proportion of treated trees colonized and killed by DFB compared to untreated controls. SPLAT MCH was as effective as MCH bubble capsules for protecting individual trees. Both MCH bubble capsules and SPLAT MCH significantly reduced the proportion of trees colonized and killed by DFB within 0.04-ha circular plots surrounding each treated tree compared to untreated controls. In 0.41 ha stands in New Mexico, both MCH bubble capsules and SPLAT MCH significantly reduced the proportion of trees colonized and killed by DFB compared to untreated controls, again with no differences observed between MCH treatments. In a similar stand level trial in Idaho, neither MCH treatment significantly reduced the proportion of trees colonized by DFB, and only MCH bubble capsules significantly reduced levels of tree mortality compared to untreated controls, but no significant difference was observed between SPLAT MCH and MCH bubble capsules. Overall, the results indicate that SPLAT MCH is as effective as MCH bubble capsules for protecting individual trees and small stands of Douglas-fir from DFB-caused mortality.


2005 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 149-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terry L. Shore ◽  
William G. Riel ◽  
Les Safranyik ◽  
Julie Castonguay

Abstract The Douglas-fir beetle (Dendroctonus pseudotsugae Hopkins) can cause significant mortality to mature Douglas-fir trees (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) during epidemics. Treatment methods are required to reduce local beetle populations to less-damaging levels. We conducted a study to compare the effect on beetle survival of peeling bark from infested logs at two times of year. By Aug., all beetles in bark from logs peeled in July were dead compared with 155.2 beetles/m2 bark in unpeeled logs. In bark from logs peeled at the end of Aug. and left over winter, there were 3.4 beetles/m2 of bark surface compared with 62.3/m2 in unpeeled logs. It was concluded that peeling logs reduces beetle populations, particularly if done early in the summer. We also examined beetle survival in stumps over winter and found that a mean of 70.4 beetles/stump, or 125.6/m2 of stump surface survived winter. It is estimated that it would take beetles emerging from 24 stumps to kill a tree. West. J. Appl. For. 20(3):149–153.


1962 ◽  
Vol 94 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. H. McMullen ◽  
M. D. Atkins

The Douglas-fir engraver, Scolytus unispinosus Leconte, is a common bark beetle throughout the Pacific Coast and Rocky Mountain Region of North America. Although it occasionally kills young trees (Chamberlin, 1939), it is of minor economic importance, usually confining its attack to tops, limbs and logging slash. In standing timber it acts primarily as a secondary insect, attacking the tops and branches of trees killed or severely weakened by other agents. In the interior of British Columbia it is commonly found in Douglas fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco, and thus it is of interest as an associate of the Douglas-fir beetle, Dendroctonus pseudotsugae Hopk. Two other bark beetles Pseudohylesinus nebulosus (Leconte) and Scolytus tsugae (Swaine) with similar associations were studied earlier (Walters and McMullen, 1956; McMullen and Atkins, 1959).


1966 ◽  
Vol 98 (9) ◽  
pp. 953-991 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. D. Atkins

AbstractThe behaviour of Dendroctonus pseudotsugae Hopk. in different physiological states was studied in relation to temperature, light, and host.Newly emerged beetles preferred temperatures near the threshold for flight. When conditioned in dry air at room temperature for 16 hours they preferred cooler temperatures.At room temperature, most newly emerged beetles settled in the brightest zone of a light gradient (55 foot-candles), although some settled in dimmer zones. If the beetles' emergence was delayed or if they were stored after emergence, more remained in the zone between 0.5 and 10 foot-candles.In light-dark tests at room temperature most newly emerged beetles were photopositive, but some were indifferent and a few were photonegative. Increasing the temperature and humidity increased the proportion of photonegative individuals. Newly emerged females oriented more directly to a single source of light than males, bur after conditioning or aging both reacted similarly.Females were separated into three behavioural types based on their reactions. Photopositive individuals flew more readily than indifferent or photonegative beetles; some photonegative females showed no inclination to fly.Photopositive females were usually host negative but photonegative females were host positive. The proportion of these behavioural types within different samples varied. A group that emerged early contained a higher incidence of photopositive host-negative individuals than a group that emerged late, or was stored for 10 days after emergence. But host-negative beetles would attack logs after starvation, flight exercise, or exposure to more attractive hosts.Host-positive females contained less fat than host-negative siblings. The decline in lipids during aging, starvation or flight thus may induce behavioural changes.There is a co-ordination of successive activities in the Douglas-fir beetle similar to that reported for aphids. The initial urge to disperse outweighs responses to host stimuli, but this balance changes as the beetles fly or as host stimuli increase. The balance between thresholds for dispersal and attack also varies in relation to the conditions under which the emerging beetles developed. Consequently, each individual behaves differently when it emerges. The behaviour of a population changes as the season progresses and from year to year owing to changes in the state of individuals and in the attractiveness of hosts.


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