How to Treat SPB Infestations with

Verbenone-Plus-Felling

1. Use Verbenone-Plus-Felling for halting the growth of SPB infestations between June 1 and October 31 or when the daily high temperature is 80 degrees or higher. SPB spots should be located in stands with at least 60% basal area of loblolly pine, pond pine, slash pine, Virginia pine, or shortleaf pine.  READ THE VERBENONE LABEL!
   
   
2. The Verbenone-Plus-Felling method is recommended for expanding SPB spots with not more than 120 currently-infested trees in pulpwood (< 9 in. DBH) or sawtimber stands (> 9 in. DBH). Average stand diameter at breast height (DBH) should not exceed 20 in. The spot should have at least one fresh-attacked (stage 1) tree (adult egg galleries < 1 in. in length) and potential for continued expansion. See "A Field Guide for Ground Checking Southern Pine Beetle Spots" for descriptions of SPB tree Stages.
   
   
3. Identify, count, and flag all SPB brood (stage 2) trees in the spot with one color of flagging (e.g. blue) and all freshly-attacked (stage 1) trees with a different color of flagging (e.g., pink).
   
   
4. With a third color of flagging (e.g., yellow), mark the boundary of a horseshoe-shaped buffer of unattacked trees to be treated with verbenone. The buffer should extend at least 25 feet in front of the most recently-attacked trees (pink flags) and include at least two rows of uninfested trees in the direction of spot expansion ( see illustration below).






5. Refer to the "Verbenone-Plus-Felling" table below to determine the total (minimum) number of verbenone pouches needed to treat one spot. The number of pouches is calculated by matching the value in the left column (Average DBH) with the appropriate value in the top row (Number of Active Infested Trees). This will give you the minimum number of verbenone pouches needed to treat the spot. The number of active trees is equal to the sum of the number of stage 1 and stage 2 trees.


Recommended (minimum) number of verbenone pouches per spot and pouches per tree to treat a southern pine beetle spot with Verbenone-Plus-Felling (at 25 ml/ft²).

Average DBH (in.) Number of Active Infested Trees 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 6 50 50 50 50 50 60 70 80 90 100 109 118 8 50 50 54 70 88 105 122 140 158 175 192 210 10 50 55 82 109 137 164 191 218 246 274 300 328 12 50 80 120 160 200 240 280 320 360 400 432 472 14 54 107 161 214 267 322 374 428 481 534 588 642 16 70 140 210 280 349 419 489 558 628 698 768 838

Number of pouches= (mean dbh/2)² x number of active trees x 0.1091.  Note: if the average DBH or number of infested trees falls between two values on the table, take the average of the upper and lower values to calculate the appropriate number of pouches needed.



6. Using the Hundle hammer, attach verbenone pouches at 10-12 ft. above ground level to all uninfested pines within the marked buffer. Attach verbenone pouches by the flap above the seal using a nail (or staple if Hundle hammer is not available) and continue adding verbenone pouches to uninfested trees in the buffer until all pouches is installed. Verbenone pouches should be spaced equally around the circumference of the tree's bole, assigning the proper number of pouches to each tree depending on its diameter:
   

   DBH (in) ..4 5-8 9-14 15-17 18-19 20.. No. Pouches/tree 1 2 3 5 7 9

   
   Verbenone pouches may be attached to hardwood trees or dead snags present within the buffer to fill gaps of more than 25 ft. between pines. Use two pouches per hardwood or snag if the DBH is less than 6 in. and 4 pouches per hardwood or snag if the DBH is equal to or greater than 6 in.
   
   
7. Apply all the verbenone pouches, making sure that minimum buffer requirements are met. The total number of verbenone pouches used may exceed the number indicated in the table in order to meet minimum buffer requirements. The verbenone buffer may encircle small spots, but should be widest adjacent to the most recently-attacked trees.
   
   
8. Fell all actively infested trees (those flagged with pink and blue flagging) toward the center or dead portion of the spot. Do not fell uninfested trees showing no signs of SPB attack or dead trees (Stage 3) abandoned by SPB. Infested trees should be felled as soon as possible following verbenone treatment, preferably on the same day. If by chance a tree is felled into standing uninfested trees, it must be hauled back into the treated area to avoid inducing SPB attacks. All trees containing brood must be felled regardless of crown color.
   
   
9. For each treated spot, record pertinent information including treatment method, average DBH, number of infested trees, number of verbenone pouches used, date of treatment, and names of applicators. Click here to print a sample data sheet.
   
   
10. Spots should be checked two weeks after treatment and again three weeks later to verify control. An infestation is inactive when SPB have vacated all infested trees and no new attacked trees are evident. If the spot expands beyond the treated buffer, retreat with an additional verbenone buffer or other approved SPB control method. If the spot does not expand beyond the treated buffer within six weeks but fresh-attacked trees are present, it may be retreated at that time. Monitoring should continue until the spot is inactive or re-treatment is necessary. After the spot becomes inactive, remove and properly dispose of all old verbenone pouches and nails.
    
    

Untreated SPB Spot
(Direction of Spot Expansion )

Treated with Verbenone-Plus-Felling
(Direction of Spot Expansion )

Important! Any Orange- or Red-Topped Trees Containing Brood Must be Felled...

• During the spring and early summer orange- and red-topped trees may contain brood adults if temperatures have been unusually cool. The emergence of brood adults could be delayed into late June. This will most often occur adjacent to a spot that was active the previous season. This situation will occur more in the northern portion of the beetle's range.
  
  
• During the summer orange- and red-topped trees may still contain brood adults during periods of extreme heat (Avg. daily temperatures above 95^oC).
  
  

Felling Precautions

• Any infested trees felled among uninfested trees must be sectioned and carried back inside the infested area (branches and foliage included)
• Any uninfested trees injured during felling must be felled inside the infested area. Injured trees may be a source of attractant for the SPB and may interfere with verbenone.

Verbenone Precautions

• Handle verbenone pouches by the flap. Pouches should be removed at the end of the treatment period and disposed of in approved waste receptacles.
• Avoid puncturing verbenone pouches below the seal.
• Keep verbenone pouches away from children.
• Store verbenone pouches in vapour-sealed containers (mylar) and freeze until used.

Product Description

• verbenone with stabilizer (active ingredient) 5ml.
• absorbent pad (2x3 in).
• plastic release pouch - white (3x5 in).