Roundheaded Pine Beetle Management

Control of roundheaded pine beetles measures should be adopted to prevent, or in the least reduce substantially, the further development and infestation of the beetle. Management/control becomes complicated where there is a major infestation; hence the need to employ effective measures as soon as their presence in noticed in an area.

Biological Control of Roundheaded Pine Beetle

The red-bellied cleric (Enoclerus sphegeus Fab): This is a very effective roundheaded pine beetle control measure which helps to dramatically reduce the population of the beetles. They eat up, larvae, pupae and roundheaded pine beetle’s adult.
A predaceous ostomid beetle (Temnochila virescensFab): They mainly feed on the eggs and larvae of roundheaded pine beetles.
Parasitaphelenchus dendroctoni Massey and Parasitylenchus stipatus Massey: these are two popular internal nematode parasites that regularly reduce the egg production (to about 50%) of females infested by the parasite.
Woodpeckers also help to reduce roundheaded pine beetle reproduction during summer and spring on each tree. Woodpeckers have been renowned for consuming over 90% of beetles on trees; it is most likely that they also reduce the population of Roundheaded pine beetle.

Cultural Control of Roundheaded Pine Beetle

Thinning and controlling dwarf mistletoe in areas where commercial forest are dense will reduce the potential destruction by the roundheaded beetle. Owners of lands can reduce the number of trees destroyed on their property and specially safeguard areas with high-value trees. This can be done by
• Thinning their stands
• Cutting out and burning of infested trees or treating them chemically.
Trap trees cut down in late September has proven, to a large extend, to be effective, however, the technique is undergoing critical study.

Chemical Control of Roundheaded Pine Beetle

Direct chemical management usually demands a lot of time, effort and resources – financial and otherwise. This is why it is mostly applied to high-value areas.

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