Abstract

Sixty-year-old ponderosa pines were injected with organic arsenical herbicides as for precommercial thinning. Treatments included applications of cacodylic acid, mono-sodium methanearsonate (MSMA), and a mixture of cacodylic acid and MSMA. Spacing of 1.2-ml injections ranged from 3 to 9 inches on centers. Treatments were applied at 2-month intervals throughout the year. Untreated trees were cut at random.

All treatments resulted in lower attack levels than felled trees. Essentially no larvae of Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins, or Ips pini (Say) were found alive. There was much evidence of larval mortality and hatch failure. Despite lack of broad success, there were differ ences among seasons and chemicals with respect to entry of the scolytids.

Eudometatoxic reaction involving reduction of organic arsenicals to arsines is a possible explanation for mortality.

This content is only available as a PDF.
You do not currently have access to this article.