Pacific Southwest

Title: Semiochemical sabotage: behavioral chemicals for protection of western conifers from bark beetles

Author: Gillette, Nancy. E.; Munson, A. Steve

Date: 2009

Source: In: Hayes, J.L.; Lundquist, J.E., comps. 2009. The Western Bark Beetle Research Group: a unique collaboration with Forest Health Protection—proceedings of a symposium at the 2007 Society of American Foresters conference. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-784. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station: 85-110

Station ID: GTR-PNW-784

Description: The discovery and elucidation of volatile behavioral chemicals used by bark beetles to locate hosts and mates has revealed a rich potential for humans to sabotage beetle host-finding and reproduction. Here, we present a description of currently available semiochemical methods for use in monitoring and controlling bark beetle pests in western conifer forests. Delivery systems include hand-applied methods, such as semiochemical-releasing bubblecaps, pouches, and "puffers," as well as products that can be applied by aircraft such as semiochemical-releasing flakes. Descriptions of both attractant-based ("pull") and anti-attractant-based ("push") strategies are provided. Examples are provided for the major bark beetle pests in western North America, including the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins), western pine beetle (Dendroctonus brevicomis LeConte), the Douglas-fir beetle (Dendroctonus pseudotsugae Hopkins), the spruce beetle [Dendroctonus rufipennis (Kirby)], and the red turpentine beetle (Dendroctonus valens LeConte).

Keywords: Pheromones, allomones, kairomones, IPM, trap-out, trap trees, push-pull, pine, Douglas-fir, spruce

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Citation

Gillette, Nancy. E.; Munson, A. Steve  2009.  Semiochemical sabotage: behavioral chemicals for protection of western conifers from bark beetles.   In: Hayes, J.L.; Lundquist, J.E., comps. 2009. The Western Bark Beetle Research Group: a unique collaboration with Forest Health Protection—proceedings of a symposium at the 2007 Society of American Foresters conference. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-784. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station: 85-110.