Pacific Southwest Research Station

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General Technical Report

Title: Direct control of western pine beetle (Dendroctonus brevicomis LeConte): review and assessment

Author: Smith, Richard H.

Date: 1990

Source: Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-121. Berkeley, Calif.: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station. 10 p

Station ID: GTR-PSW-121

Description: Nearly 70 years of research and application are reviewed and assessed. Results of direct control projects can be characterized as generally effective, temporary, quite variable, and unpredictable in reducing subsequent tree mortality. Some causes of this characterization are variable and difficult stand conditions and logistics, lack of good beetle population measurements and prediction, unknown attributes of tree and stand dynamics and of beetle population dynamics, and unforeseen post-application factors. The control method used did not appreciably change this characterization: fell-peel-bum, salvage logging, penetrating oil, residual toxic sprays, or attractive pheromones. Use of attractive pheromones was never thoroughly analyzed, and use of baited toxic trap trees was never adequately tested; both should be done.

Key Words: ponderosa pine, western pine beetle, Coulter pine, mountain pine beetle, direct control, salvage logging, fell-peel-burn, toxic sprays, attractive pheromones, baited toxic trap trees

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Citation

Smith, Richard H.  1990.  Direct control of western pine beetle (Dendroctonus brevicomis LeConte): review and assessment  Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-121. Berkeley, Calif.: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station. 10 p.