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Plant-Insect Ecosystems

Poster: P-IE, Behavior and Chemical Ecology

D3389: Development of a semiochemical tool for protecting spruce trees from the spruce beetle, Dendroctonus rufipennis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Tuesday, November 11, 2025
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Pacific
Location: Exhibit Hall A-A1, OCC
Poster Display
Spruce beetle, Dendroctonus rufipennis (Kirby) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), poses a significant threat to mature spruce (Picea spp.) in western North America. We have been working to develop a semiochemical interruption tool and strategy for protecting spruce from D. rufipennis. Beginning in 2019, we have evaluated 3-methylcyclohex-2-en-1-one (MCH), the primary antiaggregation pheromone of D. rufipennis, for tree protection at various doses (SPLAT MCH, ISCA Inc., Riverside, CA) alone and in combination with non-host volatiles acetophenone + (E)-2-hexen-1-ol + (Z)-2-hexen-1ol (PLUS) or with linalool + β-caryophyllene + (Z)-3-hexanol (AKB). We conducted seven tree protection assays, four in Alaska and three in the Rocky Mountains. In five of the seven assays, semiochemical treatments significantly reduced nuimbers of trees colonized and killed by D. rufipennis with a notable failure in Alaska in 2019 and mixed results following two years of treatment in Utah (2021-2023). Additionally, we determined the range of inhibition from the semiochemical point sources of 3.5 g MCH alone and with either PLUS or AKB in three trapping assays (two in Colordo, one in Alaska). Finally, we conducted two trapping assays comparing trap captures to four doses of SPLAT MCH alone (1, 3.5, 7, and 10g). Results from these assays indicate that MCH alone is more effective than previously thought, adding PLUS or AKB further improves protection, and D. rufipennis are inhibited to baits beyond individually treated trees. Next steps are to evaluate combinations for area-wide/stand level protection.