A Scentsible Approach to Controlling Southern Pine Beetles: Two New Tactics Using Verbenone

Abstract

Two new tactics for controlling southern pine beetle infestations use a beetle-produced inhibitor: verbenone. The techniques, verbenone-only and verbenone-plus-felling, reduce tree loss by disrupting infestation growth. In three years of field tests, the verbenone-only tactic completely suppressed 69 percent of the treated infestations, and the verbenone-plus-felling tactic suppressed 86 percent. The tactics provide much-needed alternatives to current control techniques and will allow suppression of infestations where tree felling is restricted or prohibited. In anticipation of registration of the pheromone by the Environmental Protection Agency, a technology transfer program has been developed to provide the materials and training necessary for effective use of the treatments.

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