Chemical Warfare on Pine Beetles Escalates Next Week [Audio]

The Bitterroot National Forest service is racing to prevent the spread of tree killing Pine beetles. The beetles are expected to stop wintering in early July at which point they will leave the trees they've been in and seek out new trees to inhabit. Two chemicals are widely used in the battle against the beatles, namely Carbaryl and Verebenone.

Carbaryl is an insecticide that has to be manually sprayed onto the trees. Around 2,150 trees are set to be sprayed at a cost of nearly $25,000. The trees being targeted are in 12 parks and recreation areas throughout the Bitterroot forest, which will be closed during the spraying process. Carbyral is nearly 100% effective at killing the beetles that ingest it. If weather permits, the spraying will begin as early as next Monday.

Verbanone is contained in white packets that are attached to trees throughout Montana. Verbanone works by sending a pheramone signal to the beetles telling them to look for another tree because the tree in interest has already been attacked.

Bitterroot Forest Service Spokesman Tod McKay spoke with KGVO News about the two chemical tactics the forest service is using and goes into detail about the process in the interview below.