Applied chemical ecology of the mountain pine beetle

Abstract

Mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins, is a primary agent of forest disturbance in western North America. Episodic outbreaks occur at the convergence of favorable forest age and size class structure and climate patterns. Recent outbreaks have exceeded the historic range of variability of D. ponderosae-caused tree mortality affecting ecosystem goods and services at broad spatial scales. At the same time, significant advances have occurred in our understanding of the chemical ecology of D. ponderosae and in the development of semiochemical-based tools and tactics to protect trees from mortality attributed to D. ponderosae. We synthesize related information relevant to the ecology and management of D. ponderosae and identify factors limiting the effectiveness and utility of semiochemical treatments, areas of continuing research and fields for which further work is needed.