CONTROL OF AMBROSIA BEETLE DAMAGE BY MASS TRAPPING AT A DRYLAND LOG SORTING AREA IN BRITISH-COLUMBIA

A mass trapping program for ambrosia beetles at the Sooke dryland sort ing area of Canadian Pacific Forest Products in British Columbia captu red close to 16.5 million beetles over 12 years. Spring weather condit ions influenced trapping of the main pest species, Trypodendron lineat um, the populations of which fluctuated considerably. Gnathotrichus su lcatus populations declined gradually, presumably because of the trapp ing and improvements in inventory management. A benefit/cost estimate, based on the assumption that the number of beetles removed can be cor related with degrade losses, yielded a benefit of 5 to 1 and an estima ted saving of $400,000 over the 12 years. The trapping program was con cluded to have been operationally and economically successful.