This week, Facilities Management (FM) Outdoor Services will treat a small number of campus evergreen trees that have red turpentine beetle infestations. Integrated Pest Management strategies used against this pest include the injection of insecticides directly into the trunks of threatened or infested trees.
The applications will occur on six trees. These trees have been under a variety of different stresses in recent years, leading to an increased susceptibility to bark beetles. In addition to taking continued action to mitigate the cultural stresses on these trees, treatments will greatly enhance these trees’ ability to recover and will help to prevent further colonization of this pest on other campus conifers. The treatments will be performed by trunk injection, directly applying the insecticide into the cambium of the tree. This method delivers the product to the targeted insects, greatly minimizing exposure to non-targeted animal or plant species.
Professional applicators, licensed by the State of Colorado, will be conducting the trunk injections. As a further effort to ensure the highest standard of health and environmental protection, FM staff will accompany the contracted applicators to ensure only predetermined locations receive a treatment and that all necessary precautions are taken to avoid non-target impacts.
Guidelines for pesticide use are generally described in the campus pest control policy (PDF). These applications are one of many tools used as part of an integrated approach to landscape management. The trees will continue to receive supplemental watering and cultural care, and will be monitored closely for treatment efficacy and overall health.
FM staff will also be placing yellow application notice flags at the base of all trees, indicating where each application was made. Law requires that these flags remain in place for 24 hours after an application has been made. In the interest of keeping the campus community informed, staff will leave these flags in place for one full week after the application occurs.
Contact Outdoor Services Assistant Director Don Inglis at 303-735-6311 or donald.inglis@colorado.edu with any questions. Also available is Environmental Services Assistant Director Robert Lenahan at 303-735-3627 or robert.lenahan@colorado.edu.
Notice of campus tree treatments
On or after Thursday, July 12, staff will facilitate applications of the following insecticide to trees on the lawn south of Sewall Hall and near The Rec:
Tree-age G-4 (Emamectin Benzoate) to six evergreen trees on the Main Campus. Tree-age G-4 has EPA Reg. No. 74578-10.
