Dear Resource Manager,
The Season is here and landowners are once again facing the prospect of southern pine beetle (SPB) outbreaks. The verbenone project cooperators will be conducting suppression treatments again this summer to further refine the verbenone delivery system - an integral component of the verbenone control tactic.

To date, our research has focused on treating SPB infestations with the inhibitor pheromone, verbenone. Since 1994, we have made significant improvements in the delivery system and procedures for spot treatment. We are now in the technology transfer phase of the research program and we expect verbenone will be registered for commercial use by spring of 1998. SPB infestations will be needed this season to conduct the following treatments:

1. Verbenone Buffer Only - 10 spots of alternating treatments testing new and old elution devices at two different heights on the bole.
2. Verbenone Buffer Plus Felling all Actively Infested Trees - after No. 1 above is completed, or the landowner insists on felling, or the spot does not fall within the verbenone-only parameters.
3. Untreated Control - untreated infestations monitored for six weeks.

Infestations that qualify for treatment should meet the following criteria:

1. 25-120 actively infested trees.
2. At least 60% basal area of loblolly, pond, slash, or shortleaf pine.
3. Average DBH greater than 6 inches.
4. Infestation growing in only one direction (one active head).
5. No adjacent infestation within 200 yards (negotiable).
6. Additional host type in advance of the active head of the infestation.

Please note that these criteria are not set in stone. If you are aware of infestations that approach these criteria we may be able to treat anyway. Although the chance exists that we may not perform treatments on the infestations we evaluate in your particular county, you should still benefit from our analysis by learning the behavior of each infestation and whether or not it is likely to continue to spread. There is no charge for this service. Please contact us by clicking on the appropriate state at the bottom of this window. If your browser does not have e-mail capabilities call the following number that applies to you: Quintin McClellan at (504) 231-4029 for VA, NC, and SC. Mark Dalusky at (706) 542-2289 for GA, FL, and AL. Ron Billings at (409) 639-8170 for TX, LA, MS, AR. Call Steve Clarke at (409) 639-8501 for infestations on National Forest lands. Thank you.

As part of the technology transfer, we will attempt to carry out training workshops in areas that support enough infestations to allow us to demonstrate the verbenone suppression tactic. If you are interested in attending a SPB workshop this summer click on the state below where you are located, or refer to the numbers listed above. Please indicate your occupation (i.e. consulting forester, landowner, government, etc.)