We took down a tree today that is beetle killed. I've seen people stack the wood and cover it with clear or black plastic for a year (season?) to kill the beetles and larva. Anyone able to tell me the process? Thanks.
One very effective way to kill larvae developing under the bark (though very labor intensive) is by peeling away the bark, either by hand or mechanically; this exposes the larvae to unfavorable conditions -- the larvae will dehydrate, starve and eventually die. Logs my also be burned or scorched in a pile -- preferably when there is snow on the ground (contact your local forester for assistance). They can also be buried under at least eight inches of soil, or chipped. Following beetle emergence, wood can be used without threat to other trees.
Chemical control options for MPB larvae have been greatly limited in recent years. At present, there are no labeled pesticides for use on MPB.
Solar treatments may be appropriate in some areas of Colorado to reduce beetle populations in infested trees. For the treatment to be effective, the temperature under the bark much reach 110 degrees Fahrenheit or more. Such treatments can be performed with or without plastic. This method is also labor intensive; contact your local forester for more details on solar treatments.
The beetles do not typically leave until late June or early July. If there is sap or saw dust present, then that is evidence that the beetles have left.
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I have seen stacks of blocked, beetle killed wood covered in plastic. Does anyone know if there's an insecticide sprayed on the wood before covering it? Or should it just be covered?
USFS referred me to the Colorado State Forest Service. Here's their procedure for solar treating the wood: Block the logs and lay them out in a single layer. Sprinkle well with water and cover with clear plastic. Dig a trench all around the logs and bury the plastic to create a good seal. The reasoning is that you're creating a greenhouse effect and don't want fresh air getting in under the plastic and cooling the logs off. The water creates a fungus that attacks the beetles and the larvae, in addition to the heat "cooking" them. I asked him if it would help to put a layer of black plastic down first and he said that it wouldn't hurt and would draw more heat.