It is the time of year to start considering spraying your valuable Pines and Spruce for Mountain Pine Beetle and IPS Beetle.

Mountain Pine Beetle

http://csfs.colostate.edu/iandd.htm

 Our trees are under an undue amount of stress due to our extreme drought conditions, and these conditions are prime for both Mountain Pine Beetle and Ips Beetle.  We have already lost a substantial amount of trees and it appears that the beetle problem could be worse this year.  The only proven method of controlling beetle attacks is through preventative spraying, but only if it is performed correctly.  There are different application methods for treating different types of beetle. The Mountain Pine Beetle produces one generation per year and attacks mostly Ponderosa, Lodgepole, Limber, and Scots pine.  The optimum time to spray for MPB is between May 1 and June 15, and it should be done every year while the threat of MPB is high.  An unattacked pine can be treated through September to protect the tree from infestation.  The beetle’s flight patterns have been altered due to our extreme drought, and the key to control is preventative applications prior to beetle attacks.  The application must cove the circumference of the tree from the ground up to 30 feet, unless the trunk narrows to 6 inches before 30 feet, in order for it to be effective.  Branches over 6 inches in diameter should be sprayed as well.  Tree selection may also be important.  If a property owner has many trees on the property, he or she whould only preventative spray those trees that are most valuable to the property.  Trees less than 8 inches in diameter are rarely attacked by MPB and therefore generally are not candidates for preventative spraying.

                                          (INFESTED TREE)