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To view the video of FTF's recent Verbenone Workshop, click here>>

This video is a two hour presentation on Verbenone and how it is used to protect trees from the Mountain Pine Beetle. The first presenter is Dr. Nancy Gillette, the leading expert on Verbenone. The second presentation comes from Don Fowler; an expert on Verbenone as well who works for Contech Inc. Their presentations are follwed by q & a from the audience.



Verbenone is an organic compound produced by plants. It is also an insect behavioral chemical.  Verbenone has been approved as a food additive, and is used in herbal tea, perfume and aromatherapy products.

In the context of Mountain Pine Beetles (MPB), Verbenone is an MPB anti- aggregation pheromone. That is, it signals mountain pine beetles not to attack a pine tree. It can be deployed with or without tree removal, but studies have shown and empirical experience indicates that Verbenone is most effective when combined with infested tree removal in an integrated pest management program. Because of its narrow and targeted effects (it directly effects only MPB) and its non-toxic nature, it could be an excellent alternative to toxic pesticides in many situations.

Verbenone is not a magic bullet allowing one to fully protect against bark beetles.  However, if combined with removal of brood trees, it can be fairly effective. The larger the area one can treat with Verbenone, the more effective it is. 

Currently, Verbenone is available in two forms: pouches and flakes.  Different manufacturers make these products. Pouches are made by one company, Contech, and flakes are made by another, Hercon Environmental. Generally speaking, pouches are best suited for relatively small areas as they are labor intensive to install whereas flakes can be used over larger areas. 

Pouches are typically stapled to the tree trunk about 6 feet up from the base of the tree. The flakes have been applied using aircraft, dispersing them from the air over a prescribed forested area. They can also be mechanically spread out on the forest floor, and a newer method is spraying the flakes in sticky slurry using a specialized spray gun up the trunk of a tree. Controlled scientific studies suggest that the flakes may be more effective than the pouches, perhaps because the flakes can be applied over the entire lower trunk.  This said, debate among forest entomologists, ecologists and professional foresters exists regarding the relative effectiveness of one form over the other. Moreover, it is difficult to compare one form against the other because the amount of active ingredient (in kilograms applied per acre) varies from research study to study, as does the study site itself. Continued research is on going. Regardless of this uncertainty, Verbenone clearly affects beetle behavior and can help protect trees if used correctly, especially in a program of integrated pest management. "Correct use" means a carefully planned deployment according to specific ground layout patterns developed after appropriate field reconnaissance and application of the pheromone just prior to the beetle flight season. 

Both products (pouches and flakes) are EPA approved for use in Colorado.  Current flakes are made of plastic, but Hercon is currently testing a new biodegradable form of the flake that will be available soon. The same type of biodegradable flakes containing another pheromone are routinely applied by aircraft over large areas to control gypsy moths. Verbenone flakes can be applied by aircraft (fixed wing or helicopter) by licensed applicator/pilots using appropriate equipment.

As previously mentioned, flakes can also be applied on the ground using hand-carried garden fertilizer spreaders that are cranked manually as the applicator walks through the forest, mimicking an aerial application. The other newer method under development is spraying the flakes suspended in a sticky fluid on the trunk of a tree up around 20 feet from the ground using a specialized spray gun. This method has been shown to be extremely effective in controlled scientific studies.  However, like pouch deployment, hand application to the forest floor or spaying on trees would be less practical for large forest areas.   



HOW TO GET VERBENONE TO TREAT YOUR PROPERTY

Verbenone pouches can be purchased through Contech Enterprises, a manufacturer and distributor of Verbenone.  You can order individual pouches on their website

www.contech-inc.com

You may also contact Don Fowler at 800-767-8658 ext 157 directly if you wish to order Verbenone in bulk to treat extensive acreage.

You can find a list of Colorado retailers that sell Verbenone on the Contech website. It's also available in the Roaring Fork Valley at: Eagle Crest Nursery.

The recommended pouch application is one or two pouches per tree depending on the pine tree concentration in the area but Tracey can answer any questions regarding the application or required amount of Verbenone for your specific property.The pouches ship within one or two days so you should receive them within a week.

AgBio is also a supplier of Verbenone. They manufacture a productcalled BeetleBlock which is applied once per season. For more information, visit their website: www.agbio-inc.com

For bulk orders contact: Jan Meneley, 877-268-2020 or 303-469-9221

AgBio is distributed locally in the Roaring Fork Valley by
www.rivendelldistribution.com



VERBENONE STUDIES

The following studies come from Verbenone expert, Dr. Nancy Gillette.

Dr.Nancy Gillette is a research entomologist with the Pacific Southwest Research Station of the U.S. Forest Service.  She earned her Ph.D. in Forest Entomology from U.C. Berkeley and did post-doctoral studies at the Institute  National de la Recerche Agronomique in Orleans, France.Dr. Gillette is one of the leading scientists in America studying the effects of pheromone flakes on bark beetles in actual forest settings.

Click on the following links to download a pdf of the studies

Forest Ecology Management with Verbenone Flakes

Forest Ecology Management with MCH Flakes

Verbenone Flakes Protect Lodgepole Pine