Photos from the WFIWC Archives:
Equipment and Methodology
Helicopter applying controlled release granules containing 2 % MCH. (M. Furniss photo)
Granules containing 2 % MCH. (M. Furniss photo)
Mark McGregor examining windthrown Douglas-fir during pilot test of controlled release formulation of the antiaggregative Douglas-fir beetle pheromone, MCH. Idaho, 1982. (M. Furniss photo)
After determination of the optimum elution rate of the Douglas-fir beetle antiaggregative pheromone (MCH) in 1972, a controlled release granular formulation containing 2% MCH was developed by Zoecon Corp (middle left; Young et al. 1977) and field tested in Idaho. The granules were inert dimer polyamide acid beads (U.S. Patent 4.170,631) similar to nylon. Hand application of 4 lbs (36 gms MCH) per ac was effective in preventing infestation of downed Douglas-fir throughout the flight period (Furniss et al. 1977). Work then proceeded to develop an aerial application method. This spanned several years and is both too detailed and painful for me to recount here. Success came by purchasing a Simplex aerial spreader (bucket), which was adapted and calibrated to apply the desired rate by helicopter. An employee (Victor Hager) at the Moscow Forestry Sciences Lab did this on the grounds of the laboratory.
Next, a helicopter was hired to apply the granules across lines of 3-ft2 funnels to catch and weigh granules and thereby determine the height and speed of flight for the desired result (upper left; Furniss et al. 1982) . There followed a final experimental field test involving replicated plots in mountainous forested areas of Latah Co., Idaho, on which trees were felled to simulate windthrow (Furniss et al. 1981). Then, we waited for nature to provide wind-felled trees, which occurred in November 1981. During May 11-13, 1982, a pilot test was conducted by Forest Service Region 1 personnel (lower left; McGregor et al. 1984). That completed the long and arduous work that began with the discovery of the antiaggregative effect of MCH in 1971 (view initial pheromone tests, MCH discovery, or elution studies). -- Malcolm Furniss
Reference Cited:
Furniss, M. M., G. P. Markin, and V. J. Hager. 1982. Aerial application of Douglas-fir beetle antiaggregative pheromone: equipment and evaluation. USDA For. Serv. Gen. Tech. Pep. INT-137. 9 p.
Furniss, M. M., R. W. Clausen, G. P. Markin, M. D. McGregor, and R. L. Livingston. 1981. Effectiveness of Douglas-fir beetle antiaggregative pheromone applied by helicopter. USDA For. Serv. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-101. 9 pp.
Young, J. W., T. M. Graves, R. Curtis, and M. M. Furniss. 1977. Controlled release formulations of insect growth regulators and pheromones-evaluation methods and field test results. pp. 184-199. In Scher, H. B. (ed.) Controlled Release Pesticides. ACS Symposium Series, No. 53.
Furniss, M. M., J. W. Young, M. D. McGregor, R. L. Livingston, and D. R. Hamel. 1977. Effectiveness of controlled-release formulations of MCH for preventing Douglas-fir beetle (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) infestation in felled trees. Can. Entomol. 109:1063-1069.
McGregor, M. D., M. M. Furniss, R. D. Oakes, K. E. Gibson, and H. E. Meyer. 1984. MCH pheromone for preventing Douglas-fir beetle infestation in windthrown trees. J. Forestry 82:613-616.
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