Semiochemical-Based Management of the Larger Pine Shoot Beetle, Tomicus piniperda

IPM Technologies Phase I research found that (i) addition of trans-verbenol, nonanol and one to three compounds (from alpha-pinene oxide, myrtenal and/or myrtenol) to alpha-piene increases T. piniperda captures by 150-434%; (ii) three novel compounds (fenchone, trans-sabinen hydrate, 4-allyl anisole) are inhibitory to T. piniperda when applied to breeding material or tree crowns. Our research demonstrates that further development of optimized lures and potent inhibitors is technically feasible. It also supports development of "push-pull" tactics for T. piniperda management as a component of our Phase II program. Pine shoot beetle, a very damaging insect over about 1 billion hectares of Northern Eurasian boreal forests, poses a significant threat to sustainability of the $5.4 billion/annum of lumber harvested from U.S. Pine species. No effective management techniques or products are available, except for very labor intensive, costly and rigorous silvicultural sanitation. Our Phase II program in the United States, Canada and Europe, will (i) assess deployment of optimized attractant blends for enhanced beetle detection and monitoring. (ii) develop the inhibitory compounds for suppression of beetle colonization in spring and feeding in summer, and (iii) integrate these two products into a "push-pull" management strategy.