The Prospects of Employing Semiochemical and Visual Deterrents in Protecting Trees from Bark Beetles

Abstract

Tree protection tactics based on semiochemicals are being investigated by many forest scientists but their consistent effectiveness remains a concern. One approach toward increasing the efficacy of such treatments is to combine semiochemically-based tactics with deterrents that disrupt other cues necessary for host finding and colonization. In this study we attempted to deter colonization of southern pine beetle (SPB), Dendroctonus frontalis, through disruption of the visual stimulus created by a dark, vertical silhouette. White paint was chosen as one easily evaluated deterrent since it is visually dissimilar to loblolly pine bark and readily available.

Citation

Strom, B.L.; Roton, L.M.; Hayes, J.L.; Goyer, R.A. 1996. The Prospects of Employing Semiochemical and Visual Deterrents in Protecting Trees from Bark Beetles. Proceedings: Noth American Forest Insect Work Conference; Forest Entomology: Vision 20:21