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Pest Control 101 > Treating for Pine Bark Beetles |
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Pine bark beetles are the single most destructive pest that attack pine trees. They are quick to reproduce, migrate, and eat; so once they become active in one tree, it is important to start dealing with them immediately to minimize damage to other trees nearby. Pine bark beetles are attracted to pine trees by first smelling the tree's 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 inappropriate times (usually in the summer), mechanical damage by construction crews, lightning, drought, disease, or insect damage are all things that can make a tree more susceptible to Pine bark beetles. Once a flow of sap is greater than normal, the odds that beetles will find the tree are increased. Trees that are already under attack are difficult to save. This is true for two reasons. First, once a tree is infested, the adults and larva get behind the bark which makes them difficult to reach with conventional sprays. Second, rarely does anyone spot a tree with only a beetle or two. However, if you happen to find a tree which has only minor beetle activity, it might be saved. If you are in a region where Pine bark beetles are active you may consider treating and protecting any trees you value. These preventive treatments should done quarterly (cold weather regions don't need to treat when the beetles are not active during Winter months). By spraying the tree's bark with Cypermethrin you can help to establish a protective barrier through which the beetles cannot enter. Furthermore, Cypermethrin is a strong repellent. Since Pine bark beetles don't like it, they tend to stay away from treated trees. The Cypermethrin will last at least a month or more and the beetles can sense even trace amounts. Simply dilute some Cypermethrin concentrate and apply it with a Pump Sprayer . The brand name on the bottle may vary, but the active ingredient will always be Cypermethrin. 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. As previously mentioned, most infestations are not discovered until it is too late to save the infected 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 step is to apply some of the Cypermethrin with a Pump Sprayer into any holes or damaged areas you can find. The second step for treating the tree behind the bark is the use of Orthene Aerosol . This is an aerosol in a can which comes with a straw which can be inserted into small holes so that you can treat behind the tree bark easily. The pressure from the can insures a thorough treatment. When a tree has been found with a lot of activity, you probably won't be able to save it. Completely remove this tree from your property! Finally, the last thing you want to do is keep the logs laying around as firewood for the next Winter. This would be a big mistake. The adults and larva would start living in this firewood, so you should never keep any of the infested wood around the home. Get rid of it any way you can. |
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