Effectiveness of Esfenvalerate, Cyfluthrin, and Carbaryl in Protecting Individual Lodgepole Pines and Ponderosa Pines from Attack by Dendroctonus spp.

Abstract

The effectiveness of registered and experimental application rates of insecticides esfenvalerate (Asana XL), cyfluthrin (Tempo WP and Tempo 2), and carbaryl (Sevimol and Sevin SL) was assessed for protection of individual high-value lodgepole pines from mountain pine beetles in Montana and ponderosa pines from western pine beetles in Idaho and California. This field test was conducted on the Deerlodge National Forest in Montana, the Boise National Forest in Idaho, and the Eldorado National Forest in California. The boles of the trees were treated with a candidate insecticide treatment to a height of about 10 m, the surface likely to be attacked by the bark beetles. To challenge the treatments, beetle attack densities were enhanced by using aggregation pheromones of the appropriate Dendroctonus species. One application of esfenvalerate at 0.025 percent protected lodgepole pines from mountain pine beetle for one summer, but not a second summer. Cyfluthrin applied once at 0.025 percent protected lodgepole pines for one summer and at 0.05 percent was effective for a second summer. One application of either carbaryl formulation at 1 percent protected lodgepole pines for two summers. Esfenvalerate at 0.012 percent protected ponderosa pines in Idaho for one summer; however, one application of esfenvalerate at 0.025 percent was ineffective in protecting trees for a second summer. A single application of cyfluthrin at 0.025 percent was effective for one summer, whereas a similar treatment with 0.1 percent cyfluthrin, in either the Tempo WP or Tempo 2 formulations, was effective for 16 months or two summers. One treatment with carbaryl at 2 percent was effective for the 4 summer months; only the Sevin SL formulation appeared to be effective for the second summer in Idaho. Esfenvalerate was applied once at 0.025 percent and 0.05 percent in California and protected ponderosa pines from western pine beetles for a full summer. Neither esfenvalerate treatment was effective for a second summer. Cyfluthrin was applied to ponderosa pines in California at the reduced concentrations of 0.0028 percent, 0.008 percent, and 0.025 percent. None of these treatments protected these trees from induced attack by western pine beetle for one summer.

Citation

Haverty, Michael I.; Shea, Patrick J.; Hoffman, James T.; Wenz, John M.; Gibson, Kenneth E. 1998. Effectiveness of Esfenvalerate, Cyfluthrin, and Carbaryl in Protecting Individual Lodgepole Pines and Ponderosa Pines from Attack by Dendroctonus spp. Res. Paper PSW-RP-237. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; 12 p