Photo credit: Colorado State Forest Service
Key actions you can take now to protect your trees from pine beetle and other known destructive bark pests like Ips beetle
Nathan Wallace, Forester with the Colorado State Forest Service, was the guest presenter at a recent Douglas County Conservation workshop. The focus of his presentation was trees, including best trees to plant in our area and how to mitigate pests, including prevention of the dreaded Mountain Pine Beetle.
Nathan's full presentation is here.
It's important to note that Mountain Pine Beetles are not currently in Douglas County in any significant numbers despite what some landscape and tree companies might tell you, but a surge in their numbers is expected in the coming years. This year has been especially unfortunate because we haven't had any long-term freezing, which typically kills the beetles in large numbers.
Epidemic outbreaks do occur periodically in Colorado and elsewhere, with the average uptick seen about every 8-10 years. It has been 10 years since the last large outbreak, so we're likely due for another any time.
Mountain Pine Beetle is a native pest that targets primarily Ponderosa pine trees. The beetles emerge in July and August. Stressed trees are most likely to be targeted and killed.
Two other pests to be keenly aware of are Ips beetle and Red Turpentine beetle. You'll find information and photos of these and the damage they cause on slides 33 and 34 of the PDF linked above.
Keys to Preventing Mountain Pine Beetle and other pests
Nathan's full presentation is here.
It's important to note that Mountain Pine Beetles are not currently in Douglas County in any significant numbers despite what some landscape and tree companies might tell you, but a surge in their numbers is expected in the coming years. This year has been especially unfortunate because we haven't had any long-term freezing, which typically kills the beetles in large numbers.
Epidemic outbreaks do occur periodically in Colorado and elsewhere, with the average uptick seen about every 8-10 years. It has been 10 years since the last large outbreak, so we're likely due for another any time.
Mountain Pine Beetle is a native pest that targets primarily Ponderosa pine trees. The beetles emerge in July and August. Stressed trees are most likely to be targeted and killed.
Two other pests to be keenly aware of are Ips beetle and Red Turpentine beetle. You'll find information and photos of these and the damage they cause on slides 33 and 34 of the PDF linked above.
Keys to Preventing Mountain Pine Beetle and other pests
- Supplemental water your trees (yes, even your giant Ponderosa Pines). This strengthens the tree and reduces stress overall especially in warm dry winters.
- Manage the density of your trees - try to thin them to 10 feet apart if you are able, because pine beetles 'jump' from tree to tree once they've decimated a tree, and this lessens their chances of infecting other trees.
- Have Nathan visit your property to assess your property ($93/hr) and provide you with an expert's report on your trees' overall health. If any of your trees are stressed or looking like they may be infected, Nathan will give you details on whether you need to fell the tree, and importantly, proper disposal of the entire tree so as not to keep the pests persisting on your property and then spreading to other trees and neighbor properties. Nathan's contact info: [email protected] or 303-660-9625. He works out of the Franktown Conservation Field Office at 2068 N. State Highway 83 if you wish to pay him a visit there.
- Prevent the risk of infection by being in late Spring of this year - most definitely before July/August.
- Use pheromone packets or have trees sprayed. There's a lot to unpack here, so reference Black Forest Garden Club's informative "Prevention of Tree Infestation by Mountain Pine Beetle and other destructive bark beetles including pros and cons of spraying vs. pheromone packets" PDF document.
