New pest control initiative instituted to help ID beetles

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kristina Overton
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  In an attempt to identify, and ultimately deter, beetle infestation on Malmstrom Air Force Base, several traps were placed around the installation May 9. By capturing beetles in the area, the base biologists hope to classify them and devise a plan to better protect the environment.

"We are working with the U.S. Forest Service here to set up two different kinds of traps," said Jason Gibbons, 341st Civil Engineer Squadron biologist. "We're trying to get an indication of what types of bark beetles we have coming through the base and what time of year so we can better treat the trees."

The traps lure the beetles by secreting different types of pheromones. Once the beetles are trapped in the device, the collections are then sent to the U.S. Forest Service to help categorize the species and determine how best to protect the trees on the installation. The traps are checked once a week.

"There are a number of types of beetles in Montana," Gibbons said. "We have done a lot of work with Pine beetles already, but we also have Elm beetles and ash beetles. This kind of trapping effort will indicate how bad the problem is and give us an idea of what we're dealing with."

Malmstrom is one of five bases using these traps, which were provided by the U.S. Forest Service to attempt this method. This is the first time this particular technique has ever been used in Montana.

The general public is asked to not to tamper with these receptacles during this study.