scholarly journals The Application of Behaviour-modifying Chemicals to Contain Infestations of the Mountain Pine Beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae

1983 ◽  
Vol 59 (5) ◽  
pp. 235-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. Borden ◽  
L. J. Chong ◽  
K. E. G. Pratt ◽  
D. R. Gray

Five replicates of paired forest blocks containing lodgepole pine, Pinus contorts var. latifolia Engelm., infested by the mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins, were chosen in the spring of 1982 in various interior British Columbia locations. Within the experimental block of each pair, one lodgepole pine every 50 m (4 trees/ha) was baited with the attractive semiochemicals myrcene, trans-verbenol and exo-brevicomin. The baiting program caused the attack in 1982 to be concentrated in and around the baited trees, whereas it was more dispersed in the control blocks. The overall ratio of 1982: 1981 attacked trees was 2.5 in the baited blocks and 1.8 in the controls, suggesting that dispersal of beetles out of the baited blocks was inhibited. Baiting of trees with semiochemicals is recommended to contain infestations within prescribed boundaries when sanitation-salvage logging cannot be completed prior to mid-summer flight of emergent brood beetles.

1993 ◽  
Vol 125 (1) ◽  
pp. 167-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
John H. Borden

Large infestations of the mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), reportedly arise from small, spot infestations that expand, multiply, and eventually coalesce (Safranyik et al. 1974). If these spot infestations can be located and eradicated, the development of outbreaks may be delayed, or even precluded. The principal means of eradication of such spots in forests of lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelmann, in British Columbia is single tree disposal (B.C. Ministry of Forests 1987). This may be accomplished by treating with an arsenical herbicide within 3–4 weeks after attack, cutting, bucking, piling, and burning trees before brood emergence, or extraction and processing of brood trees before emergence.


1989 ◽  
Vol 121 (6) ◽  
pp. 521-523 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.J. Stock ◽  
R.A. Gorley

The mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopk., causes extensive mortality of lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelm., throughout western North America (Van Sickle 1982). The Prince Rupert Forest Region, in the northwest of British Columbia, initiated an aggressive beetle management program in 1981. Logging of infested stands, and winter felling and burning of individual infested trees are the most common direct control techniques.The “Bristol Lake” infestation developed in the Bulkley Forest District, approximately 55 km northwest of Smithers, B.C., on a steep rocky ridge within the valley of Harold Price Creek. The area contained large volumes of mature lodgepole pine, and control of the infestation was therefore considered critical to the local beetle management plan, but the size (50 ha) and rough topography of the infested area precluded normal direct control measures.


1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. S. Whitney ◽  
R. J. Bandoni ◽  
F. Oberwinkler

A new basidiomycete, Entomocorticium dendroctoni Whitn., Band. & Oberw., gen. et sp. nov., is described and illustrated. This cryptic fungus intermingles with blue stain fungi and produces abundant essentially sessile basidiospores in the galleries and pupal chambers of the mountain pine bark beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. var. latifolia Engelm.). The insect apparently disseminates the fungus. Experimentally, young partially insectary reared adult beetles fed E. dendroctoni produced 19% more eggs than beetles fed the blue stain fungi.


1989 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. S. Lindgren ◽  
J. H. Borden ◽  
G. H. Cushon ◽  
L. J. Chong ◽  
C. J. Higgins

The effect of the aggregation-inhibiting pheromone verbenone on mountain pine beetle attacks in lodgepole pine stands was assessed by affixing verbenone release devices on trees on a 10 × 10 m grid. In one experiment, aggregation to trees baited with an attractive combination of trans-verbenol, exo-brevicomin, and myrcene was reduced in verbenone-treated blocks compared with control blocks (attractive baits only). The mean number of trees with mass attacks (≥31.3 attacks/m2), mean percentage of available trees mass attacked, and mean total number of trees infested were reduced by 74.3, 66.7, and 58.5%, respectively. The ratio of 1987 attacks to 1986 attacks was reduced from 14.0 to 2.6. In a second experiment, using no attractive baits, verbenone caused similar but nonsignificant reductions. The mean number of trees with mass attacks, mean percentage of available trees mass attacked, and mean total number of trees infested were reduced by 75.2, 53.5, and 62.1%, respectively. The 1987 to 1986 attack ratio was reduced from 13.2 in control blocks to 0.2 in the verbenone-treated blocks, and the percentage of trees that were infested but not mass attacked was significantly increased, from 45.7% in the control blocks to 63.2% in the verbenone-treated blocks. We conclude that verbenone shows promise as a management tool for controlling the mountain pine beetle.


1980 ◽  
Vol 112 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barry G. Hynum ◽  
Alan A. Berryman

AbstractLanding rates as monitored by landing traps indicate that the mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins, is not attracted to lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta Dougl., prior to the first gallery start. Bark terpene odors and DBH were not correlated with beetle landing rates, with the exception of beta-phellandrene which accounted for a statistically significant 18% of the variation in landing rates. Beetles were unable to distinguish between hosts, dead hosts and nonhosts during landing. The elderberry pith bioassay indicated the presence of a gallery initiation stimulant in the bark.


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