2/12/2010
The Holy Grail of mountain pine beetle prevention is to create a natural or organic substance that prevents mountain pine beetle (mpb) while doing no damage to wildlife, water and humans.
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Unfortunately past products that promised this haven’t worked well enough. Pheromones, fertilization and integrated tree care all help. However, none of these methods have been as effective as chemical pesticides.
According to an article by North Forty News, AgriHouse of Berthoud, Colo. is testing a new, natural MPB prevention product, called ODC, aimed at breaking through where others have failed.
Richard Stoner, president of AgriHouse, tells the North Forty News that “the product was originally developed for NASA to help ‘grow plants in a closed loop system.’ Stoner does not claim any magic solution to the beetle infestation. He describes ODC as ‘a tool in the IPM (integrated pest management) toolbox.’ ”
ODC testing is being done on a sample of 90 pine tree seedlings in Larimer County, Colorado. AgriHouse cites a Forest Service study that shows a correlation between increased resin and a reduction in the amount of bark beetle eggs.
George Biedenstein, staff arborist at ArborScape Inc. found a hole in the company’s test method.
“Pine beetles do not attack seedlings anyway,” Biedenstein said. ” They mainly attack older trees over 8 inches in diameter. So I could pour pink lemonade around pine seedlings and they also wouldn’t get pine beetle.”
Generally in a mountain setting, pine trees take anywhere from 5 to 7 years to attain the size that attracts a mountain pine beetle colony. So it could be a decade before this study garners any data. Studies done on stands of pine trees in Norway, France and Florida have shown that chitosan based products do slow down the blue stain fungus that many arborists believe causes the host pine tree to perish.
ODC is designed to strengthen a pine tree’s ability to resist the mountain pine beetle. ODC uses chitosan which helps pine trees produce more resin. Studies of bark beetle activity have shown that trees with more resin are not as an attractive host to MPB eggs.
However it all sounds like wishful thinking to us. What do you think?
Matt Johnson is a blogger and reporter covering arboricultural and tree care issues. He writes for Mountain Pine Beetle Treatment and ArborScape.
Doesn’t sound like wishful thinking to me and I wouldn’t mind trying it out. Anything is better than the origial outcome which is a predictable path. I’d like to try it.
I am excited about the potential of an environmentally safe, non-toxic, relatively inexpensive, easy to apply earth friendly treatment for pine bark beetle. From a wildlife habitat standpoint, this product can certainly do more for wildlife than the alternative approaches of “do nothing”, “hope the beetles go away”, catastrophic fire, or death of our forests on a landscape scale.
From wildlife’s perspective, some forest habitats will benefit from opening of the canopy, resulting in shrub and grass stands as well as other species of trees becoming established, where there were none previously. This habitat diversity can be helpful to wildlife. However, large-scale forest die-offs, whether caused by fire or disease can have a negative effect on wildlife habitat. These landscape sized, “biological deserts” may be helpful to a few species of wildlife, but are not considered healthy ecosystems. Anything we can do to prevent large-scale forest die-offs and instead, maintain a diversity of healthy habitats will be beneficial to wildlife. A pre-arming treatment for pine bark beetle certainly fits that proactive approach.
I have a bottle of ODC and will be applying it to our 105 acres of forested land in southern Colorado as soon as the snow melts. I hope ODC is used on thousands of acres of forests, both private and public, and sooner rather than later.
Sincerely,
Bruce L. McCloskey
Former Director, Colorado Division of Wildlife
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Here is an ODC Colloidal Chitosan testimony our nursery received June 22, 2010. Your readers may find this of interest.
To: Staff / FortCollinsNursery.
“I purchased the AgriHouse ODC for a pine beetle infestation and was asked by the staff to let you know of my personal results for future recommendations.
I first noticed the sap spots from the beetles, and excessive browning (and loss) of needles about 3 years ago on my approximately 45′ Pine. The tree got progressively worse with increasing infestion spots (40+) and browing over time, and I had no doubt that I would need to remove the tree.
I began the treatment with ODC in Feb. The tree showed remarkable improvement even after the first treatment. I treated the tree through May and am absolutely amazed at the progress. This spring I hosed most of the dead needles off and the tree got more new and healthy growth shoots then I can remmeber. New Cones are appearing for the first time in a couple of years, and there is no excessive browning at all, just a big beautiful green tree.
I will treat my pine on a yearly basis to protect it.
I would and hope that you will recommend this product with confidence because I know it has save my big beautiful tree.
Signed Terry”
This is ODC testimony is posted on our information bulletin board when you enter the store.
Regards,
Kent & Randy
Fort Collins Nursery
Fort
Kent & Randy
says:
July 3, 2010 at 8:58 pmHere is an ODC Colloidal Chitosan testimony our nursery received June 22, 2010. Your readers may find this of interest.
To: Staff / FortCollinsNursery.
“I purchased the AgriHouse ODC for a pine beetle infestation and was asked by the staff to let you know of my personal results for future recommendations.
I first noticed the sap spots from the beetles, and excessive browning (and loss) of needles about 3 years ago on my approximately 45′ Pine. The tree got progressively worse with increasing infestion spots (40+) and browing over time, and I had no doubt that I would need to remove the tree.
I began the treatment with ODC in Feb. The tree showed remarkable improvement even after the first treatment. I treated the tree through May and am absolutely amazed at the progress. This spring I hosed most of the dead needles off and the tree got more new and healthy growth shoots then I can remmeber. New Cones are appearing for the first time in a couple of years, and there is no excessive browning at all, just a big beautiful green tree.
I will treat my pine on a yearly basis to protect it.
I would and hope that you will recommend this product with confidence because I know it has save my big beautiful tree.
Signed Terry”
This ODC testimony is posted on our information bulletin board when you enter the store.
Regards,
Kent & Randy
Fort Collins Nursery
Fort Collins, Colorado