It sometimes feels like we are all loosing the battle against the MPB. Mountainsides have been left dead from this insect in the past years. Treatments are working very well in areas that are being proactive. The one benefit that is stemming from this epidemic is the increased awareness of the need for proper forest management. While we will not be able to save every tree from this insect, through a variety of proactive treatments we can strengthen the forests for a natural fight against future forest ailments.

Burning trees currently infested with beetles definitely kills the beetles in the tree. However, most currently infested trees are too green to burn effectively. This dilemma has encouraged the introduction of air curtain burners. These incinerators reach a high enough temperature with the help of forced air to effectively burn green trees. Many local municipalities are encouraging this safe and effective practice by providing an incinerator for public use.

Spraying can be very effective if implemented correctly. We average a 95% effectiveness with our spraying efforts. Heavily infested areas in unhealthy forest stands will experience a lower level of effectiveness. Spraying has sometimes received a poor report due to improper applications usually implemented by unqualified applicators.

The most recent studies are suggesting that sustained temperatures of -40 degrees F are required to have any effect on beetle populations. The beetles metabolize an alcohol called glycerol inside the tree that’s acts as antifreeze, protecting them during the colder winter months.

One question we receive every day is whether wrapping trees in plastic to “cook” the beetles is working.  Our experience has shown this method of killing beetles has limited effectiveness.  We have removed many infested trees directly adjacent to these wrapped piles.  The idea is sound, but reaching a high enough temperature inside the plastic requires many days of direct sunlight and much work continuously rotating the wood inside the plastic.  Many homeowners are experimenting with small wood ovens that they are “cooking” the beetles in with the aid of a wood fired stove.  The initial testing of this method has proven to be more successful.  Our recommendation is still to chip the entire tree. 

Infested Tree Removal

Mountain Pine Beetles along with other species of bark beetles are a natural part of a healthy forest ecosystem.  The current MPB epidemic is on a scale that has not been recorded in recent history.  We are continually surprised at the spread rates we are seeing every year.  There are many ideas of what has brought this infestation to the current epidemic level.  Poor forest management, drought and global climate change are all ideas.  Whatever the cause, proper forest management can strengthen the trees against future insect, disease and wildfire outbreaks.

The standards for size and species of trees that are being infested are continually changing. We have seen MPB infest trees down to 2 inches diameter at breast height. Many municipalities are seeing Mountain Pine Beetle infest other conifer species such as spruce and fir. Whether or not they are successfully reproducing in these different species has yet to be seen. The trees are being killed however by the blue stain fungus that is introduced with the beetle attacks. There are different bark beetle species that are infesting these conifer species as well.

Susceptible Trees Page