Pages 39-53 in J.C. Grégoire, A.M. Liebhold, F.M. Stephen, K.R. Day, and S.M. Salom, editors. 1997. Proceedings: Integrating cultural tactics into the management of bark beetle and reforestation pests. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report NE-236. Integrating Tree Felling with Application of an Inhibitor Pheromone for Suppressing Southern Pine Beetle Infestations * SCOTT M. SALOM 1 , RONALD F. BILLINGS 2 , C. WAYNE BERISFORD 3 , STEPHEN R. CLARKE 4 , Q. C. MCCLELLAN 1 , W. W. UPTON 2 , AND M. J. DALUSKY 3 1 Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0319, USA 2 Forest Pest Control Section, Texas Forest Service, Lufkin, TX 75902-0310, USA 3 Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA 4 Forest Health, USDA Forest Service, Lufkin, TX 75901, USA ABSTRACT Recent efforts to develop a pheromone-based suppression tactic for southern pine beetle (SPB) are reported here. The suppression tactic relies on the use of the inhibitor pheromone verbenone to reduce or halt spread of southern pine beetle infestations. Verbenone-only and verbenone-plus-tree felling treatments were evaluated over a two-year period. In 1994, the verbenone-only treatment was effective in the eastern part of the SPB range, yet ineffective in Texas. Verbenone-plus-felling options were effective in all test areas. The ineffectiveness of verbenone-only treatment in Texas is attributed to a lower application rate of verbenone compared to rates used in the other test areas. This led to the development of a standardized protocol of verbenone application rates for 1995. Using the new protocol, the efficiency of all verbenone treatments increased in all test areas. Verbenone-only is recommended for infestations that are small in size and where felling or salvage of trees is not desired. Verbenone-plus-felling all active trees is more effective in larger infestations than verbenone-only, and does allow for salvaging of dead trees. In preparation for the release of these behavioral chemical tactics for operational use, we identify and discuss several issues that remain to be addressed. KEY WORDS southern pine beetle, suppression, pheromones, verbenone, tree felling THE SOUTHERN PINE beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) continues to be the most serious insect pest of southern pines in the USA. In fact, 1995 was considered the most severe outbreak year in modern history, with regional losses estimated at $250 million (1996 Southern Forest Insect Work Conference Committee Report). Traditional direct control tactics such as 1. cut-and-remove (fell and remove attacked trees plus a buffer strip of unattacked trees); 2. cut-and-leave (fell infested trees plus a buffer strip of uninfested trees and leave them at the site); 3. cut-and-spray infested trees with insecticide; and 4. cut, pile, and burn infested trees, are used to treat infestations (Swain and Remion 1981). Yet during outbreak years, limited personnel and equipment make it very difficult to treat all infestations. In addition, forest managers would prefer an alternative that either doesn’t include tree felling or reduces the amount of volume felled (Salom et al. 1997). This is especially true in pre-commercial stands and remote areas with limited access. A new tactic employing the application of an inhibitor pheromone to SPB infestations will soon be available to forest land managers. It has been a long time coming, considering