FOREST PEST CONTROL Montana Department of Agriculture FOREST PEST CONTROL A Study Manual for Commercial and Governmental Pesticide Applicators This manual is intended for applicators that apply chemicals (pesticides) to conifer forests, forest nurs- eries and forest seed producing areas. Forest Pest Control applicators need to demonstrate a practical knowledge of the types of forests, pests involved, and pest management strategies used in forestry production. They should also possess practical knowledge of the cyclic occurrence of certain pests and specific population dynamics as a basis for planning pesticide applications. A special thank you to Peter Kolb, Montana State University Extension Forestry Specialist; Ken Gibson, US Forest Service entomologist; Amy Gannon, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Con- servation; Marcus Jackson, US Forest Service-Northern Region Plant Pathologist; and Janet Kirkland, Montana Department of Agriculture, for guidance and direction in developing this manual. Developed by the Montana Department of Agriculture and the Montana State University Cooperative Extension Service Jessica Fultz IPM Survey Assistant/Insect Diagnostician Monica Pokorny Weed Specialist Reeves Petroff Montana Pesticide Education Specialist (1999-2005) Agricultural Sciences Division, Technical Services Bureau, P.O. Box 200201, Helena, Montana 59620-0201, (406) 444-5400 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER: PAGE: I. INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................... 1 FORESTS................................................................................................................................... 1 Tree Biology........................................................................................................................ 2 How forests develop......................................................................................................... 3 MONTANA’S FORESTS.......................................................................................................... 3 Pine trees............................................................................................................................. 3 Spruce trees........................................................................................................................ 4 Fir trees............................................................................................................................... 5 Other important trees...................................................................................................... 6 MONTANA’S FOREST INDUSTRY....................................................................................... 6 SILVICULTURE........................................................................................................................ 7 PRACTICE QUESTIONS........................................................................................................ 7 II. MONTANA FOREST PESTS...................................................................................................... 9 INSECTS.................................................................................................................................... 9 Bark beetles........................................................................................................................ 10 Terminal feeders............................................................................................................... 12 Defoliators.......................................................................................................................... 13 Wood borers....................................................................................................................... 14 FUNGAL DISEASES................................................................................................................ 15 Root diseases...................................................................................................................... 15 Foliage diseases................................................................................................................. 17 Canker and stem diseases................................................................................................ 18 VEGETATION........................................................................................................................... 19 Parasitic plants................................................................................................................... 19 Undesirable vegetation.................................................................................................... 20 Weeds.................................................................................................................................. 20 PRACTICE QUESTIONS........................................................................................................ 27 III. FOREST PEST MANAGEMENT............................................................................................... 30 INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT................................................................................ 31 FOREST PEST MANAGEMENT........................................................................................... 36 PRACTICE QUESTIONS........................................................................................................ 38 CHAPTER: PAGE: IV. PESTICIDES................................................................................................................................... 40 PESTICIDE LABELS................................................................................................................ 40 PESTICIDE SAFETY................................................................................................................. 41 Exposure............................................................................................................................. 42 Toxicity................................................................................................................................ 43 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)............................................................................ 44 Cleaning PPE...................................................................................................................... 45 Pesticide poisoning........................................................................................................... 45 First aid............................................................................................................................... 46 PESTICIDE FORMULATIONS............................................................................................... 46 Selecting formulations...................................................................................................... 46 Mixing formulations......................................................................................................... 48 Pesticide compatibility...................................................................................................... 48 Water quality and pesticide performance...................................................................... 48 APPLICATION METHODS.................................................................................................... 49 Foliar application............................................................................................................... 50 Basal bark application....................................................................................................... 50 Frill, or hack and squirt application................................................................................ 51 Injection application.......................................................................................................... 51 Cut-stump application...................................................................................................... 51 Soil application.................................................................................................................. 51 Pre-emergent applications............................................................................................... 52 APPLICATION EQUIPMENT................................................................................................ 52 Hydraulic sprayers............................................................................................................ 52 Air sprayers........................................................................................................................ 52 Foggers and aerosol generators....................................................................................... 52 Power dusters..................................................................................................................... 53 Hand-held equipment...................................................................................................... 53 Granular applicators......................................................................................................... 53 Sprayer components......................................................................................................... 54 Cleaning application equipment..................................................................................... 54 CALIBRATION........................................................................................................................