New research findings on bark beetle control

Helge Löcken publishes important results on the containment of the spruce bark beetle with verbenone

Our PhD student Helge Löcken and his co-authors have published a significant study in the Journal of Applied Entomology. The paper examines the efficacy of SPLAT® Verb, a verbenone-based product, in controlling the European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus), the most important forest pest in Europe. In extensive field trials, in which over 1.4 million beetles were recorded, SPLAT® Verb was shown to significantly reduce the infestation of the European spruce bark beetle. The product proved to be particularly effective in wooded areas, with a reduction in beetle numbers of up to 93% near the application points. These results offer new approaches for the management of bark beetles and could contribute to better protection of our forests in the long term. The detailed results can be read in the freely accessible paper, which can be found in the comprehensive FreiDok plus database of the University of Freiburg.