VERBENONE PROTECTS CHINESE WHITE PINE (PINUS ARMANDII) (PINALES: PINACEAE: PINOIDEAE) AGAINST CHINESE WHITE PINE BEETLE (DENDROCTONUS ARMANDII) (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE: SCOLYTINAE) ATTACKS

Bark beetle anti-aggregation is important for tree protection due to its high efficiency and fewer potential negative environmental impacts. Densitometric variables of Pinus armandii were investigated in the case of healthy and attacked trees. The range of the ecological niche and attack density of Dendroctonus armandii in infested P. armandii trunk section were surveyed to provide a reference for positioning the anti-aggregation pheromone verbenone on healthy P. armandii trees. 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after the application of verbenone, the mean attack density was significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.01). At twelve months after anti-aggregation pheromone application, the mortality rate was evaluated. There was a significant difference between the control and treatment groups (chi-square test, P < 0.05). These results provide insight into the characteristics of infected P. armandii and demonstrate that anti-aggregation treatment of D. armandii can improve the protection of healthy P. armandii.