Last weekend we drove up to the property and immediately noticed about a half dozen of our Ponderosa Pines had gone completely brown. Our caretaker (who also runs a tree and landscaping business) said it was Pine Boring Beetles (is that the same as powderpost beetles?), and that we should take the trees down immediately and burn 'em on the spot.
Our previous visit was about a month or so ago, and I didn't see any sign of this at that time, so these buggers must work fast. I've done a cursory bit of research, and it sounds like these beetles can be a real problem -- not a good way to gain popularity with our neighbors, either. [img]/forums/images/icons/crazy.gif[/img]
From what information I've been able to find, my caretaker's approach is about as good as it gets. I found some talk about applying something called Lindane, but that it may not be available any more. The recommended alternative is Permethrin, but either one is probably most effective when applied to the unaffected trees in the area. At $50/quart (concentrated), I'm hoping that spraying just the trunks, as suggested, is an effective preventative measure.
What I'm looking for now, is the real scoop from our knowledgeable CBN brain trust. [img]/forums/images/icons/cool.gif[/img] Anybody have first-hand experience or knowledge?