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In many areas, the first mountain pine beetle flights will start in June. There are things you can do now, however, to prepare for the beetle’s first flight:
Identify “green attack” trees on your property
The most important thing that landowners can do to combat the mountain pine beetle is to recognize and remove green attack trees. During the green attack stage, adult beetles have tunnelled underneath the bark to lay their eggs. For every tree that is successfully green attacked, enough adult beetles emerge to attack 5-10 healthy trees next season. By the time the trees have turned red, it is too late.
Remove and dispose of “green attack” trees
The removal and proper disposal of green attack trees is critical in preventing the spread of beetles to healthy trees on your property. The most cost-effective way to dispose of green attack trees is to fall and burn them in place. If that is not possible or bylaws do not permit burning in your area, chipping is also effective. Do not chip just prior to beetle flight season and do not stack or store infested wood.
Prepare for beetle flight
Once green attack trees are removed, it is time to start thinking about defending trees against 2010 beetle flights:
- Keep trees hydrated
- Prepare an aggressive pest management program specific to your budget, values, expected outcomes, and microsite (property)
- Budget for, and plan to use verbenone
2010 Mountain Pine Beetle Timeline:
| Action |
Timeline |
| Identify and remove infested trees |
Now |
| Order verbenone (Mountain Pine Beetle Repellent) |
By April 1, 2010 |
| First verbenone application for warm weather areas |
Late May – mid June (call for information specific to your area) * |
| Second verbenone application for warm weather areas |
Mid to late July (call for information specific to your area) * |
| One application for higher elevations and cool weather areas |
Early to mid-July (call for information specific to your area)* |
In warm areas, two applications provide the best coverage for the entire attack period. In higher elevations or cooler climates, one application in early to mid-July will suffice.
Trees are valuable. They provide privacy and wind breaks, increase property values, improve air quality, and conserve energy. Check out this 2009 report to Congress.
One acre of healthy, mature pines will sequester one to six metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. If every North American family planted just one tree, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could be reduced by one billion pounds annually.
For more information contact:
Tracey Robertson
Media Relations
Contech Enterprises Inc.
250.413.3250 ext 124
1.800.767.8658
tracey.robertson@contech-inc.com
About Contech
Contech is a designer and provider of animal control and wellness products and non-toxic pest management products for home and garden, forestry, landscape, agriculture, and commercial applications. Safe and effective solutions such as the ScareCrow® motion-activated sprinkler continue to reinforce the company's reputation as a leading innovator in the pet and garden industries. Contech makes non-toxic traps for yellow jackets and wasps, outdoor flies, flour and pantry moths and fruit flies. For more information visit: www.contech-inc.com.
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