We were recently notified that the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) is doing a bulk purchase of pheromones and is passing on the savings. But you must place your order by March 7. I have used verbenone for the last 2 years and based on what I paid historically, this is about a 30-40% discount. Additionally, there is more flexibility in order quantities (ordering direct from the manufacturer requires ordering in multiples of 10).
Please note that verbenone is only effective for mountain pine beetles (MPB). MPB only attacks pine trees, e.g. lodgepole, ponderosa, scotch, and limber pines. As you know, we are in the midst of a serious MPB epidemic in our area and to include large clusters of dead and dying trees in areas of Woodside Park. MCH protects against Douglas Fir and Spruce Beetles.
Pheromones have proven most effective during mild to moderate beetle infestations. Pheromones are less effective during periods of heavy infestation. For heavy infestation, professional spraying with insecticide is more effective in PREVENTING infestation and protecting uninfested trees.
For more info on the products being offered, I refer you to the manufacturers website:
Verbenone: https://semiochemical.com/verbenone/
MCH Product info: https://semiochemical.com/mch/
Click below for the FAQ PDF from the CSFS.
In short, the pheromone provides a chemical signal that tricks flying beetles into thinking a tree is already infested. The flying beetles skip that tree and go looking for another "uninfested" tree. Again, this is strictly a preventive measure aimed at protecting healthy trees that have not yet been infested. If you have trees showing signs of infestation, now is the best time to remove and treat those trees before the larvae mature and the new beetles fly and infest adjacent trees. If you have questions about treatment for infested trees, please reach out to our FD ambassador, Otto Boneta, at woodsideparkcap@gmail.com for more information.
If you are interested in using pheromones this year, please see the email I have pasted below from the CSFS. Please note that orders need to be placed with the CSFS by March 7 to take advantage of this pricing.
CSFS purchases packets in bulk at a reduced cost, the 2025 pricing for each product is listed below:
MCH
Double Bubble: $3.20/each
Verbenone
Bubble (0.98gram): $2.14/each
Regular Pouch (5.88grams): $7.30/each
Extended Life Pouch (7.84grams): $8.49/each
A handling fee of $0.06/packet will be applied to each order to cover any handling and packing materials. An estimated shipping fee of ~ $0.02/packet will also be included to cover the cost of shipping from the manufacturer to our Fort Collins office.
Payment Details
For landowners that will be hanging the packets themselves you will be required to pay for your pheromone packets BEFORE the order is shipped to you. After submitting your order, an invoice for the product cost will be sent via email, including a link to submit payment online. A SECOND INVOICE to cover the cost of shipping out from our office in Fort Collins to your address will be sent at the time of shipping.
For landowners that need CSFS staff to hang the packets, one invoice including both the product cost & labor will be sent out AFTER the packets are deployed.
To submit an order please email CSFS_ForestHealth@colostate.edu with the following information:
Contact information: Name, address, phone number
Number of packets
Please indicate if you will be hanging the packets yourself, or if you need CSFS Forest Health staff to hang the packets on your property at an hourly rate of $93.
To ensure product availability before beetles are flying, your order information must be sent to CSFS_ForestHealth@colostate.edu no later than March 7, 2025.
After that, you can still order directly from the manufacturer at https://semiochemical.com if you are interested. The pheromones typically need to be placed a few weeks before the anticipated migration period which usually starts in mid-June depending on climate conditions and elevation. The CSFS will provide a forecast.
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