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In an effort to better explain and detail the Mountain Pine Beetle HLA has created this section. Additionally, you will find some historical data and forms necessary for treatment.

Quick Facts...

• Mountain pine beetles (MPB) are the most important insect pest of Colorado's pine forests. MPB often kill large numbers of trees annually during outbreaks.
• Trees that are not growing vigorously due to old age, crowding, poor growing conditions, drought, fire or mechanical damage, root disease and other causes are most likely to be attacked.
• For a long-term remedy, thin susceptible stands. Leave well-spaced, healthy trees.
• For short-term controls, spray, cover, burn or peel attacked trees to kill the beetles. Preventive sprays can protect green, unattacked trees.

2009 Weber Canyon Hidden Lakes Mountain Pine Beetle Fall Monitor

Overview         

Spring of 2009, Hidden Lakes Home Owners Association participated in a preventative mountain pine beetle spraying project in conjunction with the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands and John Turley Spraying Company. The purpose of the project was to protect the larger diameter Lodgepole Pine trees from attacks by the Mountain Pine Beetle through preventative spraying treatment. The goal is to reduce mortality rates of lodgepole in Hidden Lakes.

            This fall a monitoring was conducted in Hidden Lakes to determine if continued efforts of beetle spraying have been successful.  Twenty percent of the total lots sprayed were randomly selected and surveyed for attacks of sprayed trees. Table 1 shows the lots that were surveyed and the number of trees sprayed.

Table 1. Fall monitoring of lots in Hidden Lakes.

Results 

Lot number 4 experienced 1 successful bole attack on a sprayed tree.

This year a total of 417 trees were initially flagged with blue flagging and 511 were actually sprayed. Additional flagging was required with some late participants and additional spraying in common area. Of the twenty percent of lots randomly selected one tree was attacked. In other words 99.8% of the trees sprayed were not attacked this summer.

2009 Beetle Review (MS Word)

2009 Beetle HLA Data (MS Excel)

Recommendations

It is recommended that private landowners continue to monitor the area for additional beetle problems. The chemical that was applied to the tree will last for up to 18 months, which means participants trees sprayed from this year should not be attacked through next summer. Supplemental watering of Lodgepole Pine trees in the summer, especially if it is dry, is the best recommendation to keep trees healthy. The best option for long-term forest health would be thinning of the stands to reduce competition and stress.