Aggregation: Attractive pheromones that result in attracting both sexes to one location.
Allomones: Usually part of a defensive mechanism. Allomones are semiochemicals where there is benefit to the species emitting the chemical. For example a skunk when disturbed will release volatile chemicals that discourage many predators.
Anti-aggregation: Repellant pheromones that result in dispersal of individuals away from one location
Bark beetle: A rice-sized beetle that is naturally found in the forest and makes its home under the bark of evergreen trees.
Blue Stain: A fungus that is carried by the beetles into the tree that they infect. The fungus will eventually kill the tree by disrupting the vascular system and causing the needles to fade from lack of nutrients and water.
Boring dust: Fine red sawdust-like powder that is seen in bark crevices or at the base of a tree indicating bark beetle attack. White sawdust - like powder is typical of woodborers.
Brood: A number of young produced at one time from a beetle.
Diameter at breast height (dbh): Tree diameter at breast height. Breast height is defined as 4.5 feet (1.37m) above the forest floor on the uphill side of the tree. Tree dbh is the outside bark diameter at breast height. The diameter is the distance measured as a straight line through the center of the tree and is determined by taking the measurements of the girth or circumference, often using a girthing tape and then determining the diameter from it. A girthing tape actually is calibrated in divisions of π centimeters
(3.14159 cm), thus giving a directly converted reading of the diameter.
Engraver beetle: Secondary bark beetles that often follow after attacks by Mountain pine beetle, Douglas-fir beetle or Spruce beetle,
Entomologist: A scientist that studies insects.
Fir/Spruce tree: Have only one needle (no bundles) attached to the branch and the shape of the needle can differ by tree species.
Galleries: Pathways carved out by the beetle under the bark (phloem) of a tree where a female lays her eggs and where the hatched larvae feed. Gallery patterns and shapes can help identify what type of beetle has attacked the tree.
Host trees: A tree that is suitable for a specific insect to colonize.
Hundle hammer: A special long-handled hammer.
Integrated pest management (IPM): System of controlling pests and their damaging effects through mechanical, chemical, biological, cultural and regulatory techniques; a pest management strategy that focuses on methods that are least injurious to the environment ; pesticides being applied in such a way that they pose the least possible hazard, and are used as a 'last resort' when other controls are inadequate.
Kairomones: A type of semiochemical where there is a benefit to the detecting species. For example, Western pine beetles recognize and attack Ponderosa Pine trees. The recognition of the host tree is due to volatile chemicals in the oleoresin which act as kairomones.
Pesticide/Insecticides: A chemical used to control, repel, or destroy pests, usually insects of any sort.
Pheromones: A subset of semiochemicals used for communication within the same species. Insects, animals and even microorganisms use these signaling chemicals to modify the behavior or physiology of members of the same species.
Pheromone plume:The pheromone “scent” that is in the air
Phloem: The moist, inner green layer under the bark of a tree.
Pine tree: More than one needle attached to the tree together in a bundle. The number of needles per bundle is often important in determining the pine species.
Pitch out: When a tree is attacked, the resinous pitch (sap) is produced to drown and flush out the beetle.
Pitch tube: Accumulations of pitch (sap) which is the trees natural defense against beetle attacks. They can be brown, pink, yellow or white. Large pitch tubes may indicate an unsuccessful attack and beetles are often drown in them. Small pitch tubes may indicate a successful attack.
Pupa: Life stage in an insect undergoing transformation
Riparian Zones A riparian zone or riparian area is the interface between land and a body of water.
Semiochemicals: A broad range of chemicals that convey a message. The term semiochemical comes from Greek roots roughly translating to signal chemical.
Synergy. the working together of two or more things to produce an effect greater than the sum of their individual effects.
Slash: The unwanted branches, tops, stumps, and leaves that are removed during logging and typically burned in piles at the sides of roads.
Windfall: Naturally caused uprooting of trees.
Wood borer: Many species and families of beetles whose larval or adult forms eat and bore into the heart wood of a tree.
Synergy Semiochemicals Corp 604-454-1122 synergy@semiochemical.com
Glossary - commonly used beetle terms
Diameter at breast height (dbh)
Pheromones can be attractive (aggregation)
or
Repellent (anti-aggregation)
Red boring dust at base of tree
