Services

Mountain Pine Beetle

What is MPB?

The mountain pine beetle (MPB), Dendroctonus ponderosae, destroys trees when adults successfully penetrate the bark and lay eggs. Eggs hatch and the larvae tunnel out in a horizontal pattern destroying the essential vascular phloem as they feed. The Blue Stain Fungus, which rapidly clogs the trees vascular system, is often carried by adult beetles and readily transfers to trees sustaining successful attacks. Pesticide sprays are highly effective, if applied accurately and at the right time, in preventing successful MPB attacks. Mountain pine beetle host trees are most commonly ponderosa, lodgepole, scotch and limber pine. The bristlecone, pinyon and austrian pines are seldom attacked. The first couple of years of an outbreak are limited to trees stressed from injury, poor site conditions, fire damage, overcrowding, root disease or old age. When the insect pressure begins to approach the epidemic scale, as we are seeing from the Canadian Rockies down through Mexico, even the largest and healthiest trees begin to fall victim to the beetle.

What Can Be Done?

There are two treatment options we offer when it comes to protecting trees from MPB. We offer the conventional pesticide spray application and the other option is a non-toxic pheromone program. Along with both of these treatment plans there are several important “cultural practices“ that are imperative for helping your trees resist attack.

Other Important Issues:

Some other issues to consider as a tree owner are Ips Beetle, other engraver beetles, twig borers and Zimmerman Moth. For the purpose of protecting the majority of lodgepole and ponderosa pines along the lower foothills of Colorado we are mainly concerned with Ips Beetle, which will kill trees in a hurry if attacked. The main difference when managing Ips is that of timing. While MPB has one generation per year the Ips can have as many as 7. They fly as early as late March and as late as November. This requires two Protective Treatment sprays timed early April and again in mid July to early August in order to appropriately protect trees.

What does this mean for you and your trees?

If you are concerned about Ips then we advise the twice annual approach to protecting your pines. If you have not seen and are not concerned about Ips Beetle, in your area then once annually, mid April thru mid June, will suffice.

Conventional:

This approach is absolutely the safest bet for high value trees in urban and forest settings. The chemical we use is called Permethrin, Astro,(LABEL/MSDS) which is a restricted use pesticide labeled by the EPA for use as protective spray against many pests of trees and crops. It is important that it is handled very conscientiously from transporting and mixing to how and where it is applied. We take many precautions when handling and applying all chemicals.

When applying Astro(LABEL/MSDS) our applicators take careful note of the area where they are working. They are looking for anything that could be harmed while applying or after applying the spray. Here are some BASIC RULES:

We will NOT apply if these issues cannot be addressed:

People, animals, toys, pet bowls, waterways, fish ponds, open windows, wind (drift potential), applicator is unsure of which trees are approved and other unforeseen issues.

We CANNOT honor this pricing within Boulder City limits.

City of Boulder Residents are NOT eligible for this pricing. If your property is outside the "city limits" you are eligible. This is due to restraints by the city of Boulder's Pesticide Ordinance (Section 6-10-1 B.R.C. 1981) and the difficulties of spraying pesticides in the average city lot. Please don not hesitate to contact us if you feel that your trees have relatively easy accessibility. You would then still be responsible for notifying neighbors 24hrs. in advance of treatment either verbally or by posting a notice in your front yard.

We will spray when:

Trees are identified and nothing on the above list is an issue.

When applying a spray to prevent MPB it is important that several practices are followed diligently.

Mix rate: The mix rate must be carefully understood and followed. It is a different rate depending if one or two applications are performed per year.
Application: When applying the spray it must cover the entire trunk from the ground to the top of the tree. Large limbs should be covered as well. It has been documented that very small areas on a tree have been successfully attacked by MPB where the applicator missed a patch during the spray. It is applied until dripping not just wet.
Timing: The beetle only flies once per year. Traditionally this was late June through early August. In recent years it has been flying from April though early November. The peak time remains late June through late August.
Waterways & Ponds: No tree shall be sprayed within 50’ (fifty feet) of any body of water. Permethrin is extremely toxic and fatal to aquatic life. Fish ponds can be covered. It is a very tedious and precise process.
Commercial Applicator License: Storing, mixing and applying pesticides is regulated by the EPA. The Colorado Department of Agriculture enforces and licenses individuals and commercial entities under this regulation.

Pheromone:

This is an approach that can be effective under the right circumstances. The basic idea is that a scent is released which signals the beetle that a tree (or an area) is tapped out and the beetle then turns its attention toward or a more favorable host.

The results are mixed. It seems that is fairly effective where beetle populations are low to moderate. It has no effect where populations are high to epidemic. Much of the Rocky Mountains are experiencing epidemics. The front range is experiencing higher beetle pressure (more beetles) every year.

For high value trees (a tree you just can’t live without) we recommend spraying Astro even if you are using the pheromone treatment on your property.

Cultural Practices:

The most important part of all tree care starts with cultural practices. As it relates to MPB, here is a list:

Water: Trees need water! Regardless of the season trees need water. If it is dry out make sure the trees are getting supplemental water from a hose, irrigation or hire a commercial company to come do it for you. Remember, just because it snows doesn’t mean there is enough water getting to the tree roots. Dig down a few inches and feel the soil. If it doesn’t stick together then water. If it is too squishy and dripping when you squeeze it then there might be too much water and its time to back off.
Fertilize: Many of our landscape trees do not get enough nutrients and minerals from the native soils. Consider signing up for soil treatments with us or do your homework and apply it yourself.
Remove fresh kills: MPB flies and attacks trees in the summer (typically) which can be seen by the pitch tubes formed by the trees reaction to these attacks. Not all attacks are successful. The pitch tubes are an effective way for the tree to "pitch" the beetles out before they actually get in and harm the tree. When an attack is successful the tree will turn reddish sometime between mid fall and mid winter. These trees must be removed before April so that the overwintering larvae don’t have an opportunity to exit the tree and fly to a new tree and start the cycle again. Not only should the trees be removed but they should be disposed of properly. This means all trunk wood needs to be burned (before April!), chipped, buried (landfill), milled and the bark chipped (before April), or wrapped in plastic (tightly!). This is no joke. These beetles have been spread far and wide through firewood and logging projects.
Solar treatments can also be done. This involves heating the trees to a temperature of at least 111 degrees F under the bark. It is very labor intensive.
Thinning: Trees should be spaced properly so that they ample access to soil, water and light. When the forest is too thick the trees cannot be healthy. Have a professional make recommendations for your property.

Summary:

The beetles have been at it a long time. We are seeing a natural ecological cycle take place and it is devastating to our sense of nature, aesthetics and hearts. Hopefully we will become better custodians of our forests as a result.

In the meantime there are effective methods for dealing with high value trees in small to medium size environments.

Please find out as much as you can about MPB. It is a very serious problem with dire consequences for us all. Do what you can to help protect our trees!

Here are some related links about MPB:

Taddiken Tree Company is Licensed with the Colorado Department of Agriculture License #12111. Aaron Taddiken is the acting Qualified Supervisor License #20916.

Terms and conditions for online payment at $10 per tree.

A minimum of $80 per customer will be charged for MPB sprays. $10 per tree after the 8th tree.
Customer is responsible for:

City of Boulder Residents are NOT eligible for this pricing. If your property is outside the "city limits" you are eligible. This is due to restraints by the city of Boulder's Pesticide Ordinance (Section 6-10-1 B.R.C. 1981) and the difficulties of spraying pesticides in the average city lot. Please don not hesitate to contact us if you feel that your trees have relatively easy accessibility. You would then still be responsible for notifying neighbors 24hrs. in advance of treatment either verbally or by posting a notice in your front yard.
Marking all trees to be treated. This can be done with anything that easily identifies the trees, i.e. ribbon, tape, paint, etc. You must notify us in advance of the work schedule date as to how they are marked.
Making sure all work areas are cleared of people, animals, vehicles and objects that could be harmed by the pesticide application. See "BASIC RULES" above.
All water ponds, pools, fish ponds etc, must be covered or drained or we will NOT spray.
Anything that cannot be moved must be covered by the customer if chemical contact is not acceptable to the customer.
Closing windows in houses, garages, sheds, vehicles, etc.

Customer will be charged a minimum of $80 if an applicator cannot work because of:

Unmarked trees
A work area that is not cleared of people, animals, vehicles and objects that could be harmed by the pesticide application. See "BASIC RULES" above.
Waterways, uncovered ponds, uncovered pools, etc.
Open windows
Any other condition that prevents applicator from doing the job, including but not limited to interfering neighbors, on site cancellation or schedule change by customer, pets in the yard, etc.

Customer agrees to the schedule date pre-arranged between customer and Taddiken Tree Company, Inc. and understands that a minimum of $80 will be charged if 24 hours written notice is not given for schedule changes or cancellation.
Customer will not be charged if the schedule date or time changes due to weather. We will do our best to work with you if something unforeseen or out of your control occurs.
Taddiken Tree Company, Inc reserves the right to change schedule dates and times due to weather, equipment or personnel issues. We will notify customer of changes.