Control of ambrosia beetle damage by mass trapping at a dryland log sorting area in British Columbia

Abstract

A mass trapping program for ambrosia beetles at the Sooke dryland sorting area of Canadian Pacific Forest Products in British Columbia captured close to 16.5 million beetles over 12 years. Spring weather conditions influenced trapping of the main pest species, Trypodendron lineatum, the populations of which fluctuated considerably. Gnathotrichus sulcatus populations declined gradually, presumably because of the trapping and improvements in inventory management. A benefit/cost estimate, based on the assumption that the number of beetles removed can be correlated with degrade losses, yielded a benefit of 5 to 1 and an estimated saving of $400,000 over the 12 years. The trapping program was concluded to have been operationally and economically successful. Key words: Trypodendron lineatum, Gnathotrichus sulcatus, Gnathotrichus retusus, Coleoptera, Scolytidae, pheromones, benefit/cost estimate