Researchers identify natural repellent for Southern pine beetle

Since 1960, the Southern pine beetle has caused losses amounting to $1 billion in Southern forests.

A process recently patented by researchers at Mississippi State and the USDA Forest Service's Southern Research Station at Pineville, La., uses a chemical found in pine resin to ward off attacks by the destructive insect.

The compound is 4-allylanisole, or 4-aa. Researchers discovered that the chemical repels the beetle without affecting its natural predators.

The team included chemist Leonard L. Ingram Jr. of Mississippi State's Forest Products Laboratory; and, from the Southern Research Station, insect ecologist Jane L. Hayes, entomologist Brian Strom, and senior technician Lawrence Roton.

Researchers also found that 4-aa repels a broad range of beetles in addition to the pine beetle.

4-aa is readily available, relatively inexpensive, and can be applied to trees in several ways.