What current research projects are underway on the ecology and mitigation tactics for mountain pine beetle?
Studies continue on the use of preventive insecticide sprays and insecticides injected into the trees (systemic insecticides). Studies also continue to develop approaches using anti-aggregation chemicals, which simulate the chemicals that beetles produce to keep other beetles away. These anti-aggregation chemicals are intended to interfere with the ability of the mountain pine beetle to infest trees. Mountain pine beetles have several natural enemies such as parasitic and predatory insects, birds that utilize insects as food, and diseases. These organisms impact mountain pine beetle populations under low-level populations but, in most cases, have little impact on beetle populations at epidemic population levels. Research is currently underway by various agencies to better understand the historical conditions of Colorados lodgepole, ponderosa pine, and mixed conifer forests and how this relates to bark beetle ecology. The use of vegetation management through silvicultural thinnings can
