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1. PLAN. If you reside in an area with beetle activity, we recommend you plan your beetle management strategy by consulting with a Forest Service representative, Forester or Certified Arborist in your region. Beetle activity can last for 3-5 years so a long-term strategy is best. If you need help locating a professional, we would be happy to assist you. Remember the adage: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
2. REMOVE any infested trees well before the beetles emerge. Nothing good will come from leaving beetle infested trees in the area you are trying to protect. The trees should be burned or buried in the ground. Do this well in advance of the beetle flight (preferably do it in the fall). Remember that trees infested in the spring and summer will have adult beetles ready to emerge the next year and there will be many more emerging than went in. They will all be looking for new host trees to begin the reproductive cycle again.
3. DO NOT PRUNE during the spring and summer months. Do not damage bark if possible. The scent of freshly cut wood is the primary attractant that draws beetles right to your trees.
4. WATER and/or fertilize the stand if possible. Keeping your tree healthy is the best beetle defenses. Healthy trees have more “pitch”, the sticky resinous sap that drips from a wounded tree. This resin immobilizes the attacking beetle and ‘pitches’ it out. To ensure your tree has a good supply of pitch, keep it well watered, especially in times of drought.
5. THIN your tree stand if possible to 15-20 feet (4-6 meters) between trees leaving the healthiest ones. Overcrowding of young saplings can rob valuable, mature trees of water, sunlight and nutrients. How thin depends on the lay of the land, number of trees and tree species. Contact your local Forest Service office or State Forester for more information.
6. DIVERSITY in your stand will keep your trees healthier. A species mix will reduce the risk to any given pest. Each tree species has different sun, water and nutrient requirements. Remember, the roll of the beetle is to speed up the normal decay of older, stressed trees to keep the natural ecosystem at it’s healthiest.
7. USE BeetleBlock™ products to reduce tree mortality on your property. BeetleBlock™ products are safe and easy to use, and best of all will not harm birds, mammals pets, or other predator insects.
Good to Know: Once the first pioneer beetles land on a tree, they will send out a very attractive pheromone to invite other beetles into that direction. For this reason it is best to put out your BeetleBlock before the first beetles take flight.
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