Beetles and other insects communicate using pheromones. MCH - a synthetic pheromone treatment for Douglas Fir & Spruce trees - replicates the beetle pheromone, sending a message that the tree is full to capacity and that the food supply is insufficient for additional beetles. Arriving beetles receive the `message' that they should look elsewhere for a suitable host tree.
MCH is non toxic pheromone control for use against Douglas Fir Beetles (Dendroctonus pseudotsugae (Hopkins) and Spruce beetle (Dendroctonus rufipennis). It is contained in a small bubble-cap that emits a simulated pheromone (naturally produced by the beetles) and tells incoming beetles that a tree is full when in fact it is not. Fooled by the phantom communication, they continue to fly to find another host tree. With little capacity for long flights, a significant number will die in transit looking for another place to raise their brood.
How Safe is MCH?
MCH is environmentally safe and non-toxic to humans, pets, birds, and even the beetles themselves. Registered by EPA and most Rocky Mountain States. All pheromones in controlled release dispensers are approved organic by USDA/NOP. It is user and Eco-Friendly. Unlike the insecticides approved for Bark Beetle control, MCH does not kill bees, beneficial insects, aquatic organisms. Not restricted use. Always follow label instructions.
How to use MCH:
Easy to use controlled release dispenser that is hung on individual specimen trees or placed in a grid pattern when wanting to protect acreage. Bubbles have been designed specifically to last as long as the beetle flight and do not need to be replaced half way through the season in most instances.
For individual trees: It is our recommendation that you staple or nail the first 1-2 MCH caps 7 - 10 feet high (2m) on the north face of the tree just prior to beetle flight season. MCH Application dates will vary a little with elevation but are typically Apr 15 – May 1 for fir beetles and June 1 thru June 15 for Spruce beetles. For larger trees add 1 bubble cap for each 8" in diameter 3 ft above the first cap. (a tree 16" in diameter will have at least 2 bubble caps with 1 or 2 placed at 6-12 feet height and on additional 1 at 12 - 14 ft height.
Tree areas less than 2.5 acres: Place 1 or 2 bubble caps on all trees over 8 inches in diameter, the number of bubble caps depending on risk of attack. OR employ a grid pattern throughtout. Area-wide protection is the most economical method. Areas 1/2 acre or larger can be protected by placing Bubble Caps in a grid fashion, spacing the product every 30-35 feet. (The effective radius of the pheromone plume is about 15 feet, so try to space the caps no more than 30 feet apart). Remember, you do not need to place MCH directly on the tree. If you do not have a pine or fir tree conveniently spaced every 25 feet, you can apply MCH to any other tree, a post hammered into the ground or even a building. You are trying to create an invisible blanket of MCH pheromone that surrounds and permeates the wooded area. Use approximately 30-40 BeetleBlock bubble caps per acre applied in this fashion.
Stumps and windthrown trees: Each stump or tree must be treated to prevent population build-up because stumps and windthrown trees are preferred hosts. Place 1 bubble cap on the north face of each stump. Place up to 6 bubble caps, depending on the tree size, at 6 - 10 foot spacing on the shady side of the log.
Winds: The wind speed and direction determines where the pheromone plume will go. It is also important to note that pheromone products are volatile chemicals and insects can only `sense' these chemicals from a down wind position. If possible, use the wind factor to your advantage. Additionally, the pheromones disperse from the capsules more quickly as the temperaturee warms up. By using the north face of a tree, you are usually placing them on the cooler side AND on the upwind side.
Studies have shown that during epidemic conditions, the pressure from beetle populations who must go SOMEWHERE (even if conditions are not optimum for them) may reduce the effectiveness of all treatments. Given the "find a tree of any size or perish" imperative that emerging pine beetles face, they may habituate to both chemicals and pheromones. However, we still have a few years to work on the problem in areas that are not yet overrun. That time may give just the breather necessary to let nature begin to draw back the danger or for other management techniques to take hold.
