PINE BORER BEETLE CONTROL

    This article is about PINE BARK BEETLE control.
It will explain why they are a pest and what
needs to be done for controlling infestations.
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   This article is about pine bark beetles. It is important
to understand several things before you start reading
through the text of this article which could save you some
time.
1) The sole intention of this article is to inform it's
readers of basic beetle activity. Do not read further
if you are looking for great details regarding these
pests. There is a wealth of information about them which
has been compiled over the years available from
many government agencies, local libraries and on line.
Our intention is simple: If you want some general
information about this pest because you either have
some on or around your property, this article is for you.
We will first provide some generally information and
then most importantly offer details of what should
be done along with what products to use for treatment.
2) There are way too many subspecies of bark beetles
for us to go into all their details. Do not expect to
get regional coverage of beetles which may be found
only in your state or area. We will highlight common
traits about these beetles, explain the common problems
associated with having bark beetle infestations and
then offer solutions which are sure to help control
and contain local problems you may have.
3) Though the vast majority of trees which are infested
and killed each year are some type of pine tree, there
are other types of beetles which can and do infest
hardwood trees as well. All the treatment guidelines
we will explain can be applied to most any type of tree;
the general pest management plan for these destructive
pests applies to all types and the same chemicals which
can be used on pine trees can be used on oaks, dutch
elms, cherry, birch or any other species you may have a
concern about.
4) Don't expect to find any of the products which many
old publications have listed for tree treatment. In the
past year most of these (Lindane and Dursban to name
two) have been discontinued or are being phased out. 
More importantly, don't make the mistake of thinking that such 
products are stronger or better than whats currently available.
This is not true. In fact, the products which were
being offered over the years like Lindane and Dursban
were chemicals which were recommended because they
were inexpensive and had appropriate labeling. Their
cost was low because they were among the first active
ingredients sold. Their initial registration costs
and chemical testing requirements were practically
non-existent so manufacturers were able to sell them
at inexpensive prices which have kept them the product
of choice being recommended. Over the years, as
new registration fees got higher and higher, testing
and safety became more of a concern. This has lead to 
new products introduced today as being both more costly
and safer for the environment. The older, original
compounds were finally forced to undergo new product
testing by todays standards. These standards are hard
to meet and consequently most manufacturers found it
not economically feasible to keep them. As these older
compounds are being phased out, many publications
which have been recommending certain products have
not been updated. To further complicate matters, the
phase out guidelines for some of these products
vary from state to state. This makes it hard for
local agencies to recommend what to use when
treating or even to know what is available. For this
reason we have kept the choices simple. There have
been a few products both labeled and used over the past
10 years which have a good track record and at this
time we have confidence they will do as they claim.
Though new compounds are coming out even as you are
reading this posting, we have learned that only after
any one product has been out in the field for several
years can you be sure that it will perform as hoped.

          PINE BARK BEETLE BIOLOGY
  
   Pine Bark Beetles are small reddish brown beetles
about 1/4 to 1/3 of an inch long. They are able to 
fly, they reside in trees and can be found at many
altitudes around the world. Though they prefer live
trees, they can and will feed on freshly cut stands
when readily available. Pine bark beetles are the
single most destructive pest which attacks pine
trees. They are quick to reproduce, migrate and 
eat so once active on any one tree in a stand, it
is important to start dealing with them immediately
to minimize casualties. There are other species which
will feed on a variety of hardwood trees but these
tend to be slower at both reproducing and causing
damage. Softwoods, like pine trees, tend to get damaged
quicker and are able to provide harborage to more
insects then hard woods over the same period of time.
   Pine bark beetles are attracted to pine trees
by first smelling the trees sap. Though most trees
will emit small amounts of sap naturally, trees which
sustain injury due to man or nature are more likely
to get beetle activity quicker. Pruning at unappropriate
times (like the summer), mechanical damage by construction
crews cutting protective tree bark, lightning, drought,
disease or insect damage like that which can occur
from termites are all things that can make a tree more
susceptible to pine bark beetles. Once a flow of sap
is more than normal, the odds that beetles will find
the tree are increased. A normal healthy tree will emit
or release some sap that can attract beetles. When a
tree is injured and sap runs freely, the odds that
beetles find the tree are greatly increased. Once found,
beetles will penetrate the bark and then begin excavating
tunnels between the bark and the wood of the tree. These
tunnels will serve as egg cavities. Eggs will be laid and
when the larva hatch they will immediately begin to feed
on the live part of the tree called the phloem and xylem.
This feeding will lead them on a random journey which
typically moves around the tree weakening it's bark to
the point of it falling off. Trees which have been
severely damaged will shed their bark and appear naked;
galleries and tunnels will be visible leaving a sure
sign of what caused the damage.
   Once the larva get their fill, they will undergo
a metamorphosis during which time they change to adults.
This third stage is called the pupa and when ready, they
will hatch and emerge from the tree. Their emergence
will leave a bunch of new holes through which the 
attractive scent of sap along with their natural
pheromones will attract even more beetles. For this
reason it is always wise to treat any tree which you
suspect may have a small amount of activity. Trees
can withstand a beetle or two but if left alone,
this initial activity will multiply to hundreds of
beetles as new ones are attracted. At this point the
survival of the tree is not likely. Most importantly,
the adult beetles which will be emerging are
looking for new trees on which to land and start laying
eggs. If you have a stand of trees and one gets an
infestation, it is always best to treat as many around
the infested one that you want to save. This effort
will help prevent the activity from spreading. 

       TREATMENT OPTIONS AND GUIDELINES
	   
   The control of pine bark beetles is really not a
control as much as it is a preventive treatment. Trees
which have activity are difficult to save. This is
true for two reasons. First, once a tree is infested,
the adults and larva are active behind the bark which
serves as protection from conventional sprays. Secondly, 
rarely does anyone spot a tree with only a beetle or 
two. However, it can be done. If you happen upon a tree 
which has only minor and beginning beetle activity, it 
can be saved. For this reason you must consider all 
options and then make a decision based on what makes 
you comfortable and what gives you piece of mind. Here 
are some general guidelines for both the prevention and 
control of pine bark beetles before and after activity has
been found.

      BEFORE YOU HAVE ANY BEETLES ACTIVE....

   If you are in a region where pine bark beetles are
active or if you have had some bad experience with
them in the past, you may consider treating and 
protecting any tree you value. Such treatments should
done quarterly (cold weather regions don't need to
treat when the beetles are not active during winter
months). By spraying the bark you can help to 
establish a protective barrier through which beetles
cannot enter. Furthermore, one of the best products
to use has a strong repellency feature. Since
bark beetles don't like it they tend to stay
off and away from treated surfaces. CYPERMETHRIN
is the product to use for this purpose. It will
last at least a month or more and because the
beetles can sense even trace amounts they tend to
stay away from where it has been applied. Use one
of our SPRAYERS and be sure to get as high as you
can up the bark. In general, you want to spray
high first so that the material will run down
the bark and you will be able to maximize the area
treated without spraying the same area over and
over. Since pine trees tend to have rough and
detailed surfaces which are sometimes hard to get
equally sprayed, add some SPREADER STICKER to the
tank mix. This product makes the spray "spread"
over treated surfaces enabling the Cypermethrin to
get better coverage. In the long run you will be
doing a better job of spraying as well as using
less chemical. Treat any and all trees you want to
protect. Such applications will help keep away carpenter
ants, termites, carpenter bees and other destructive
insects which can all weaken and contribute to any
trees demise. Do these applications quarterly and you
won't have to worry about tree loss due to bark
beetles.

   WHAT TO DO WHEN A LITTLE ACTIVITY IS FOUND....
  
   There are many theories about what to do once you
have found live beetle activity. As previously stated
above, most infestations are not discovered until it
is too late to save the host tree. However, if you
have found a tree with only a little activity and
want to do everything you can to save it, you do
have options.
   The first option is to use some of the Cypermethrin
listed above in a Sprayer along with the Spreader
Sticker and inject the material into any hole you
find on the bark. Exit holes, bark separating from
the tree and damaged sections can all be used as
access points through which you can spray. If you 
poke and prod the bark gently, many times you are
able to find sections of bark which are loose or
cracking. Such areas probably have activity and
should be treated. You can also drill some small
holes into the tree, just deep enough to enable
spray to trickle down behind th bark, which can
prove to be an effective way to treat. This type
of treatment can be tedious and may prove to be
too much work. However, killing off feeding larva
before they cause too much damage can prove life 
saving for the tree. 
   The second option for treating the tree
behind the bark is the use of PT-CYKICK. This is
an aerosol which comes with a straw which can
be inserted into small holes so that you can treat
behind the tree bark easily. The pressure of the
can along with the aerosol sized particles which
are released insures a thorough treatment. The
use of this product will require less product which
will be distributed faster and more uniform. The
other advantage using this product is that you are
able to treat the tree much faster. Insert the thin
straw, hold the can on for 5-10 seconds and you are
done. Do this around the trunk spacing holes about
1-2 feet apart depending on how well each treatment
hole takes product. The more each hole will take
the less holes needed. Holes don't need to be bigger
than 1/8 of an inch so the exit holes from beetles
which have already left can be utilized. Once treated
behind the bark, use some of the Cypermethrin listed
above to spray the outside the bark of the tree to
help put in place a residual which will keep out new
beetles. If you have other trees close by, treat them
as well following the treatment of the tree with
activity.

    WHAT TO DO WHEN A LOT OF ACTIVITY IS FOUND...
	
   When a tree has been found with a lot of activity, you
probably won't be able to save it. The original thinking
of handling such trees has been to remove them making
sure to burn it along with all the infesting beetles.
However, this is not always so easy to do. One thing is
for sure: If you have a tree infested with Pine Bark
Beetles and there are other trees close by, you need to
treat the other trees ASAP. This preventive application
should be done with the Cypermethrin and careful inspections
of these same trees should be done monthly as well until
the infested tree can be removed or taken down.
   There are other considerations that need to be thought
of regarding the infested tree. First, does it pose a threat
to a home or wildlife should it unexpectingly fall? Trees
that have been weakened by beetle damage will eventually 
fall to the earth. Be sure the tree you have identified
does not pose any hazard to nearby residents. Second,
can the tree which is infested be removed? If the answer
is yes, you should consider treating if before the
removal. Remember, the act of taking down the tree will
stir up adults causing them to leave. This exodus will
undoubtedly allow several of them to find a new home
elsewhere basically infesting another tree. Avoid this
problem by treating the tree being removed with Cykick
or Cypermethrin. Thirdly, once removed, where will the
dead tree be taken? Trees which have been treated
prior to being taken down may have less active adults
and larva but there is no way all will be dead. As
a general rule you don't want to leave a fallen tree
laying around which is infested with pine bark beetles.
They will quickly start to leave and nearby trees will
become immediate targets and new homes. It is important
to have the tree taken away, mulched or burned
immediately upon being cut. There have been too many
cases of trees which look to be OK turn out having
hundreds and thousands of adults start leaving it once
it has been cut down. These migrating adults are then
able to relocate and start their infestations all over again.
Make sure you don't let this happen by disposing of the
tree completely. Burning works well and mulching does a
good job as well. The last thing you want to do is
keep the logs laying around intended to become firewood
for the next winter. This would be a big mistake. Since
the adults and larva will start leaving this now
dead and dehydrating lumber you should never keep and
store any of the infested wood around the home. Get rid
of it any way you can.
   Pine bark beetles can be a problem for homeowners and
land owners all around the world. They strike quietly
and their damage will quickly kill infected trees. If
you are in a region where activity is high, inspect
your trees every couple of months to try and identify
if any get activity. Treat with Cypermethrin once
a quarter to help safeguard against infestations. Once
active, you will need to first protect the trees
surrounding the one with activity and then make some
decisions regarding the infested tree. If you decide
to try and save it, be sure to do thorough applications
behind the bark which will help to kill off current
activity thus helping to minimize damage. If the tree
has to be removed, be sure to destroy all the wood
properly so the present beetle population is not
able to survive and relocate. Following these guidelines
will help keep your trees both healthy and happy so they
can continue to be an active part of your landscape.

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