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Mountain Pine Beetle -
Dendroctonus ponderosae    Scott Tunnock, USDA Forest Service, USDA Forest Service,
www.ipmimages.org Rocky Mountain Region Archives, www.ipmimages.org   Mark McGregor, USDA Forest Service, Leslie Chong, Simon Fraser University, www.ipmimages.org www.ipmimages.org  HOSTS: All native and
introduced species of pine. DESCRIPTION:
Adult
beetles are cylindrical, stout bodied beetles, about 1/4 inch long, and
brown to black in color. The larvae are white-yellowish, legless grubs
with a dark head. LIFE
CYCLE: Larvae
spend the winter under the bark. They feed throughout the spring and
then pupate in early summer. Depending on the species of host tree the
beetle will emerge in mid to late summer to attack new host trees.
After they mate the female forms a vertical tunnel and lays about 75
eggs. When the eggs hatch, the larvae tunnel away from the egg gallery
which produced a characteristic pattern in the wood. Look for pitch
tubes and red boring dust in bark crevices and on the ground. CONTROLS:Cultural: Woodpeckers and clerid beetles feed on Mountain pine beetle adults and larvae. Do not allow trees to become overcrowded. Keep trees watered during July and August. Maintain pH at <6.5; mulch with composted fir or pine bark 1 - 2 inches deep. Remove and destroy infested trees. Chemical: Carbaryl (liquid formulation) can be applied to tree trunks 30 - 35' high before May first. One treatment is good for two seasons. Trapping - Anti-aggregation pheromone see Bark Beetle Pheromone Use Table. |
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