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OPERATIONAL APPLICATIONS OF SCOLYTID SEMIOCHEMICALS:PIE IN THE SKY OR PIE FOR DESSERT?

John H. Borden
Centre for Pest Management, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Simon FraserUniversity, Burnaby, B.C., Canada, V5A 1S6.


Although not well recognised outside of forest entomological circles,semiochemicals have been used with remarkable success against several scolytidbeetle pests in numerous operational settings. Among notable achievementsare: 1) region-wide prediction of pest population trends by the ratio ofclerid beetles to their southern pine beetle prey responding to semiochemical-baitedtraps; 2) operational mass trapping of three species of ambrosia beetlesin timber processing areas in British Columbia; and 3) rescue of a protectedstand of Torrey pine from probable obliteration by the California five-spinedips by using a combination of antiaggregation and aggregation pheromones.Ongoing research promises many exciting new applications, including: 1)semiochemical-inducedcompetitive exclusion of tree-killing species with less aggressive secondaryspecies; and 2) the use of antiaggregants (including repellent synomonesfrom sympatric scolytids, resistant tree synomones, and non-host synomones)to protect high value amenity trees, stands and logs from attack.


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