How to Get Rid of Bark Beetles

[Daffodil3263]

HI, I was wanting to find out how to get rid of bark beetles, my Hickory trees are having the worst problem, any help would be greatly appreciated

[Smallgardener]

This is what I found by just searching it. I myself am getting ready to treat some tree borers. I am going to us a product that contains Imidacloprid. It is systemic and hopefully gets them if they are there. I don't know if it would work on bark beetles.
https://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7421.html

[Daffodil3263]

Thank you! I found out that nematodes will get rid of them, a certain kind
but thank you for the info

[shadylane]

I think you are meaning "Milky Spore" with the nematodes. If so that takes at least three years to start working good around your trees. Plus watering regular.

In my opinion only, and I have been noted to be "Allianated Opinionated" I have to ask what would be best, since the systemic product works through the roots drawing up the product. Giving me the meaning that anything that starts to eat on the tree meet their doom...I always wondered about it's usage since butterflies and beneficial insects have free range depending on the type of trees one has. I have seen monarchs drink the sap from a weeping oak.

[rainbowgardener]

Everyone has to figure out what trade offs they are willing to make and I understand you wouldn't want to lose mature hickory trees.

But Imidacloprid is one of the neonicitinoids that are implicated in the disappearance of honeybees. It is a particularly vicious one The same property that makes Imidacloprid effective against the bark beetles - that it is systemic and so is present throughout the tree/ plant including in pollen and nectar - makes it very effective against the honeybees as well.

Here's some threads where it was discussed:


https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/vi ... hp?t=32198

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/vi ... p?p=123986

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/vi ... hp?t=31831

you can search yourself for more, we've had a number of good threads about it.

[Daffodil3263]

I have lost older hickory trees, and my younger ones are now vulnurable, so I want to save them, so what can I do?

[Dillbert]

the EPA has restricted pretty much all of the chems that might be useful to licensed applicators.

you'll need to call in _several_ "tree guys"
why several? because you need the truth. disreputable types will look at a 120% dead tree and say "I think we can save it" - with a huge$ bill attached - tree dies anyway.

you need an honest answer.

[valley]

daffodill, How would you apply the nematodes?

[valley]

There is a real problem with Bark Beetles in the mountains. I have long thought the wasps, yellow jackets carried them, beetles, away and laid eggs on them. A few years back the there was a move to eliminate yellow jackets, they were bothering people because of their great numbers. Bate, traps and spraying cut down their numbers, I haven't seen one for a long while and I believe the bird population suffered too. I think that the increase in the Beetle damage is a result here in the mountains.