New Pine Beetle Treatment Tested

Feb. 8, 2010 - PRLog -- Residents of Crystal Lakes, northwest of Red Feather Lakes, are reforesting burned areas with seedlings treated with a new product that promises to strengthen each tree's ability to resist the mountain pine beetle.

Resident Kathy Dillon-Durica recently planted 90 seedlings and treated them with a product trademarked ODC, produced by AgriHouse Inc. of Berthoud.

The product uses a natural substance called chitosan, made from Icelandic shellfish. Diluted with water, the product is applied like a fertilizer around the base of trees. In turn, the chitosan stimulates the tree to produce more resin.

Residents of Crystal Lakes band together each fall to purchase seedlings by the pallet from the Colorado State Forest Service. More than 1,500 seedlings were planted last year. Several individuals are using the new product on their seedlings.

According to Forest Service studies, the product can increase resin production by up to 40 percent. Residual bark beetle eggs are reduced by a similar amount. Increased resin levels help trees resist the burrowing bark beetle by increasing the tree's ability to push out the beetle. This reduces the amount of blue-stain fungus present in the tree. Some believe the fungus is the agent that causes the tree's death.

Dillon-Durica noted that she is pleased because the product is "low cost, organic and poses no harm to our water supplies."

The EPA lists chitosan as a commonly occurring natural substance that poses no risk to mammals or to the environment in general.

Richard Stoner, president of AgriHouse, says the product was originally developed for NASA to help "grow plants in a closed loop system." Stoner does not claim any magic solution to the beetle infestation. He describes ODC as "a tool in the IPM (integrated pest management) toolbox."

AgriHouse recently completed development of a formulation that can be applied by aerial spraying. This would allow treatment of large forest tracts by airplane.

The product was developed in conjunction with retired Colorado State University plant pathologist Ken Knutsen and CSU microbiologist Jim Linden.

About AgriHouse Inc
AgriHouse is located in the Garden Spot of Colorado, Berthoud, CO, since 1992.  The company manufactures and sells natural earthly friendly biopesticides. ODC Chitosan was developed under NASA funded research. ODC Colloidal Chitosan is state registered for nursery and home & garden.

Available at Loveland Garden Center & Nursery, Loveland, CO Tel 970) 669-3577 and other garden retail outlets. Also on  the web at http://www.odcchitosan.com


Media Contact:
Richard Stoner
President
AgriHouse Inc
Tel 970 532-3554
Fax 970 532-9800
info@agrihouse.com
http://www.agrihouse.com

Source:
North Forty News
http://www.northfortynews.com/News/20100215_NewPineBeetle...
Copyright 2010

# # #

The North Forty News covers interesting people, events, and historical topics in our Northern Larimer County, Colorado coverage area including Wyoming and Nebraska.