Fighting the bark beetle: methods and means. Bark beetle

Bark beetle – beetle, 4-8 mm in size, is one of the most dangerous forest pests in the central part of Russia. The main food supply for the bark beetle is spruce, pine, birch, and less commonly fir, cedar and larches. The bark beetle feeds on the bast tissue of a tree - this is the inner layer of bark along which nutrients move from the roots to the crown of the tree. When the bast is eaten around the circumference, the tree's nutrition stops completely and the tree dies. Adults also use the bark of the tree to breed offspring. The functional purpose of the bark beetle in nature is sanitary cleaning of the forest from diseased and weakened trees. However, in conditions of an uncontrolled increase in the number of the bark beetle population, healthy spruce and pine trees are also at risk of “invasion.” Therefore, it is important not only to promptly prevent tree diseases, but also to clear the area of dead wood and diseased plantings - potential breeding and wintering sites for the bark beetle.

The most dangerous representatives of the species are: the bark beetle, the pine beetle, the Siberian engraver, the fluffy polygraph, the birch beetle, the greater pine borer, the spruce sawfly, the pine sawfly, the pine hawkmoth, the pine moth, the spruce and pine leafrollers.

Life cycle of the bark beetle

At the end of September - October, when the air temperature drops to +5 degrees, the bark beetle hibernates in a pre-selected place, which allows it not to freeze throughout the winter. The roots and bark of trees, dead wood and dead wood, and forest litter are well suited for this. With the onset of spring, as soon as the sun warms up the wintering site, the surviving beetles emerge from hibernation and begin searching for a new tree to reproduce. An adult can tolerate frosts down to -30 degrees; larvae and pupae die at -13 and -17 degrees, respectively. Therefore, the bark beetle’s particularly active flight in April–May occurs after mild winters.

It is recommended to carry out primary treatment of trees no later than April 20 to prevent the infestation of bark beetles

To breed offspring, the bark beetle selects a weakened tree with thick bark; in the absence of such, it selects any healthy, young tree, or even a stump. Also, the choice of a bark beetle may fall on a healthy tree or shoots, if all the available trees suitable for reproduction are already occupied by its relatives. Having looked for a suitable place, the bark beetle gnaws a hole in the bark measuring 2-3 mm, then attracts several females with a specific pheromone to breed offspring and after some time leaves the tree to search for the next one. After 60-70 days from the moment of settlement, a new generation of the bark beetle grows up and begins its own adult life, and already from the beginning of July the second, summer flight of the bark beetle starts. Each adult can produce from 2 to 4 offspring per season, each of which completely destroys the coniferous tree.

It is recommended to carry out preventive barrier treatment of trees 3-4 times per season, depending on the intensity of the bark beetle’s flight:

primary processing: from April 10 to April 25
repeated treatment (during intensive flight): from May 15 to May 30
secondary processing: from June 15 to June 25
repeated treatment (during intensive flight): from July 15 to July 25

Reasons for its appearance and how to recognize it

When builders build houses from wood, the wood is treated with special substances that prevent the appearance of bark beetles. If this operation is not carried out properly, then, after some time, the beetle will definitely begin to spoil the wooden building. In addition, bark beetles may appear in a house due to the use of low-quality raw materials for construction that are already infected with the pest.

There is a much greater likelihood of a beetle appearing in the garden, since these insects are constantly migrating in search of new territories rich in green spaces. When they destroy one tree, they begin to look for another.

To determine whether a bark beetle has appeared in the garden, just carefully examine the trees. If small holes are visible on the bark, and when you tap on it you feel emptiness, then this is evidence of the tree being infected with a bark beetle. In such cases, you should immediately begin to combat this pest, otherwise it will soon take over wooden buildings.

Interesting to know! You can determine the presence of bark beetles in the garden by the fine yellow dust that falls from under the bark of trees. This dust is a consequence of the vital activity of the parasite.

Prevention of tree infestation

Installation of pheromone traps along the boundaries of the site. This will make it possible to detect the presence of the bark beetle at an early stage and take preventive measures to combat it: treating spruce and pine trees with insecticides, monitoring and timely removal of infected trees. This is only a preventative measure and does not guarantee that the trees will not be infected.
Treatment of healthy trees against bark beetle during the flight of the bark beetle. The bark beetle is not active all year round. In the spring, at the end of April, the bark beetle wakes up from hibernation and flies to living trees to reproduce. In June, the second generation of bark beetle hatches and more and more trees become infected. There can be up to four such flights over the summer! At the end of September, the bark beetle reduces activity and looks for places to winter.
Removal of infected and dead trees and destruction of infected logging residues. The bark beetle can live for a long time in dead and fallen trees. And under favorable conditions, it can fly out and colonize healthy trees on the site.
Timely sanitary pruning of trees. Pruning dry branches on spruce and pine trees significantly increases the resistance of a tree infected with diseases, rots and parasites, which increases the tree's immunity.
Stimulation of the crown and root system of the tree. Feeding trees and treating trees against parasites and diseases, as well as stimulating growth, also increases the resistance of spruce and pine trees to bark beetles.

If the tree is already infested, then it will no longer be possible to save it, and in order to save the rest of the trees on the site, it must be removed as quickly as possible, and the logging residues removed or burned!

Preventative measures in the garden

The pest is terrible not only for garden crops. It can start in the wooden walls of a house or buildings on the site. Therefore, preventive measures will not be superfluous.

To do this, it is necessary to regularly clear the area of old leaves, branches, and stumps, since insects can overwinter there. If there are plantings near your dacha affected by the typograph or other bark beetle, it is better to destroy them (cut down and burn) to prevent the spread of the pest.

A very important place is given to spring and autumn care (mulching the soil, gartering, pruning the crown, fertilizing), which will help prepare for temperature changes, inspecting the vegetation to identify beetles, and treating with complex preparations.

If there is no visible damage or signs of disease on the tree, you can try to save it. Brown sawdust indicates that the beetles are still making tunnels under the bark. But when the bark peels off easily in the zone of insect penetration, the drill flour becomes light, the leaves and crown begin to wither - the only option is to burn it. It will not be possible to save the patient.

Signs of tree infestation

Drying of needles on spruce and pine trees. Usually the tree begins to weaken, the needles become sparser and begin to turn yellow, acquiring a red or bright yellow color. First, individual branches dry out, then the whole tree.
Active shedding of needles. If the needles of a spruce or pine tree begin to actively fall off, then this is a sure sign of a tree disease or infection with a bark beetle. You need to pay close attention to such trees.
The appearance of woodpeckers and other birds that feed on tree parasites. This is also a sure sign of infection of the trees on the site.
The appearance of sawdust and “boring” (brown) flour at the roots of the tree. The bark beetle eats through the passages and carries the wood outside. Such trees can no longer be saved; they must be removed as soon as possible.
Holes 3-5 mm in size appeared in the bark. Usually the bark beetle infests from a height of 6-8 meters and the holes are not visible from the ground! When holes begin to appear lower down, this is a sure sign that the tree will soon die.
Strong release of resin from pines and fir trees. This is a sign of the tree’s fight against pests and diseases, a protective reaction to external factors.
Tree bark falling off. This is the last stage of the tree's life, when sap flow has stopped and the bark beetle has eaten all the bast tissue. The tree is already dead, and the bark beetle is ready to emerge again. Such trees must be removed immediately, even if green needles are still present on them.

Prevention of tree infestation

Installation of pheromone traps along the boundaries of the site. This will make it possible to detect the presence of the bark beetle at an early stage and take preventive measures to combat it: treating spruce and pine trees with insecticides, monitoring and timely removal of infected trees. This is only a preventative measure and does not guarantee that the trees will not be infected.
Treatment of healthy trees against bark beetle during the flight of the bark beetle. The bark beetle is not active all year round. In the spring, at the end of April, the bark beetle wakes up from hibernation and flies to living trees to reproduce. In June, the second generation of bark beetle hatches and more and more trees become infected. There can be up to four such flights over the summer! At the end of September, the bark beetle reduces activity and looks for places to winter.
Removal of infected and dead trees and destruction of infected logging residues. The bark beetle can live for a long time in dead and fallen trees. And under favorable conditions, it can fly out and colonize healthy trees on the site.
Timely sanitary pruning of trees. Pruning dry branches on spruce and pine trees significantly increases the resistance of a tree infected with diseases, rots and parasites, which increases the tree's immunity.
Stimulation of the crown and root system of the tree. Feeding trees and treating trees against parasites and diseases, as well as stimulating growth, also increases the resistance of spruce and pine trees to bark beetles.

Pests and times of their maximum activity

Pest	What trees does it affect?	May	June	July	August
Bark beetle typographer	Spruce, pine, larch	+	+	+	+
Pine beetle	Pine, spruce	+	+	+	+
Fluffy polygraph	Fur tree, pine tree	+	+	+
Siberian engraver	Young spruce and pine trees	+
Spruce sawfly	Ate	+	+	+
pine sawfly	Pine, spruce	+	+	+	+
Pine Hawkmoth	Pine	+
Pine leaf roller	Pine	+	+
Spruce budworm	Spruce	+	+
Conifer moth	Spruce, pine, larch, etc.	+	+
Great pine borer	Pine	+	+	+
Birch beetle	Birch	+	+	+

Methods of protection against bark beetle

Today, there are three main methods of controlling bark beetles:

Spraying of trees with barrier insecticides and stimulating preparations along the entire height of the trunk by arborists while climbing the tree. This method has proven itself to be the best and provides almost 100% protection against bark beetle throughout the entire season. Treatment is carried out immediately before the departure of the bark beetle: in mid-April, early June and July, with very hot summers in August. Three to four treatments are enough to protect the trees on the site for the entire season. Treatment is carried out with a mixture of preparations Clipper (Aktara, Topaz) - a means of protection against pests and insects and Kartotsid - a means for destroying fungi, bacteria and viruses. Insecticides are safe for humans and animals!
Arborjet stem injections, which increase the tree's immunity and resistance to diseases and pests. The method for our country is quite new and has not yet been fully studied, but it has already proven itself as a good protection against the bark beetle. It consists of introducing protective drugs into the tree trunk under pressure. These drugs spread throughout the tree with sap and nutrients, protecting the tree from the inside. In Russia, drugs for intra-stem injections are not produced, and the cost of such drugs is quite high.
Treat the area with insecticides from the ground to a height of 8-10 meters. This method is suitable for treating large numbers of short trees from the ground with a petrol sprayer. The specialist treats each tree from root to crown with insecticides and stimulants. The maximum processing height is 10 meters in calm weather and is not suitable for tall trees.

Fighting larvae and beetles with wire

You can get rid of bark beetle larvae, which cause major damage to trees and damage to human property, using various methods.

Today there are many recommendations on how to fix this problem. The choice in favor of one method or another is determined by the location of the pest. If traces of the parasitic activity of a beetle were found on trees, you must first carefully examine the house, since there is a high probability that beetles from the garden have moved indoors. If the fears are confirmed, before treating the garden with chemicals, you need to eliminate the larvae in the house.

An effective method of exterminating the pest is the use of steel wire. To do this, a long wire of suitable diameter is inserted into the tunnels that the larva has made in the tree. This is how the bark beetle spoils wood. After cleaning the passages of the tree, it is treated with special solutions.

Drugs used

"Clipper" ("Tolstar", "aktara")

“Clipper” (“Tolstar”, “Aktara”) (the most effective means for combating bark beetle)

Preparations of universal action, destroy bark beetles and other pests and insects. According to the mechanism of action, “Clipper” is a contact-intestinal insecto-acaricide. It will completely disintegrate in 4 weeks, after which it is necessary to re-treat. Insecticides are safe for humans, animals and plants!

Directions for use: treatment of tree trunks a week before the bark beetle begins to emerge.

Dosage: 150ml/10l of water, Consumption rate 150-200ml per tree.

Price: Canister 5 l – 22000 rub.

"Ram"

“Taran” (a product for combating bark beetles, ticks, bedbugs and mosquitoes)

A drug similar in properties to the drug “Clipper”. Destroys almost all gnawing and sucking insects, very effective in the fight against ticks. Typically a mixture of Clipper and Ram is used in a 50/50 ratio.

Directions for use: treatment of tree trunks a week before the bark beetle begins to emerge. Treating the area against ticks, mosquitoes and pests.

Dosage: 50ml/10l of water, Consumption rate 50-100 ml per tree.

Price: 5l canister – 18,000 rub.

Cartocide (broad-acting antiseptic)

A product for combating fungal, viral and bacterial diseases of trees. Stimulator and accelerator of growth of coniferous trees and ornamental and garden trees and shrubs. Has antiseptic and bactericidal properties. Protects trees from moss and lichens. Using Kartotsisch together with insecticides increases their effectiveness. Insects do not become accustomed to the drug. The product is resistant to leaching and ultraviolet radiation; one treatment of trees at the beginning of the season is sufficient. The drug is safe for humans, animals and plants!

Method of application: treatment of tree trunks against fungal and bacterial diseases. Used in solution with the preparations “Clipper” and “Taran”.

Dosage: 50ml/10l of water, Consumption rate 50-100 ml per tree.

Price: 5l canister – 13,000 rub.

Bi-58 (now almost never used)

Destroys all insects and pests indiscriminately, both harmful and beneficial. It disintegrates slowly - 2-4 months and is used only at the beginning of the season. And does not require additional processing. Does not respond to temperature fluctuations, rain and ultraviolet radiation. The insecticide is highly toxic and is not recommended for use near residential buildings!

Directions for use: treatment of tree trunks a week before the bark beetle begins to emerge.

Dosage: 100ml/10l of water, consumption rate 100-150 ml per tree.

Price: 5l canister – 9,000 rub.

Using a special solution for pest control

Another way to remove a bark beetle larva? An equally effective method is the use of a special solution. This procedure requires preliminary preparation in the form of removing the affected areas of the tree.

The next step will be preparing the solution. For this purpose, rosin is added to the melted paraffin. The resulting mixture must be brought to a boil, then add vegetable oil and leave on low heat for another 10 minutes. Many experts recommend adding a fungicide to this solution.

The cooled and infused mixture should be applied to the affected areas of the tree.